68 languages in the WALS sample have a separate form for the “with you” meaning.
WALS 39A / 200 LANGUAGES
Who gets into “we”?
In 68 of 200 languages, “we” has a separate form when it includes the person being addressed. In 63 of those 68 languages, another form leaves that person outside the group: 92.6%.
THE “WE” REGISTER
One pronoun. Two channels.
You chose with you. The map highlights 68 of 200 languages.
“We” can change who stands beside you.
In English, context makes the choice. In other languages, the pronoun can make it on its own.
The speaker and the person being addressed belong to the same group.
The speaker keeps the group for themself and the others.
We arrive before sunset.
selected meaningI + you (+ others)
WALS 39A / FIVE CATEGORIES
The whole map, at a glance.
All 200 points keep their WALS categories. The register lights up only the languages that carry the selected meaning.
Of the languages with a form for “with you”, this many also have a form for “without you”.
- 01No special form for “we”2
- 02“We” and “I” share a form10
- 03One form for “we”120
- 04Only “with you” has a separate form5
- 05“With you” and “without you” have separate forms63
THREE LANGUAGES / ONE CHOICE
Hear the two forms.
Choose a language and see how “we” divides into two meanings.
Mandarin
WALS · CATEGORY 5
WALS records two forms for the two meanings of “we”.
Forms recorded in WALS Chapter 39.
A relationship can fit inside one word.
English uses “we” both when the speaker includes the person being addressed and when that person stays outside the group.
In other languages, the relationship can be heard in the pronoun itself. One form brings the listener into the group; the other keeps the group for the speaker and the others.
WALS 39A · SOURCE
The map presents WALS Online Feature 39A, with 200 languages and five categories for independent pronouns. The Mandarin, Chamorro and Canela examples appear in Chapter 39. Land outline: Natural Earth, public domain.