First Person Dual Conjugation

Socrates the Cyborg · Post by **Socrates the Cyborg** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:33 pm

Does anyone have an explanation for why there is no such thing as a first person dual conjugation in Homeric Greek? It seems to me very sensible. It would be like saying "We two X" and it could have a conspiratorial connotation, as in "only we two". Just seems like that would be even more practical and useful than saying "you two" or "those two".

Bert · Post by **Bert** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:26 pm

It is hard to explain why languages developed the way they did.
My guess is that if I am speaking to you about the two of us, it will be clear to you that I am only speaking about us two. If I am speaking to you about others, the dual makes clear that I am speaking about two others only.

Like I said; This is a guess.

Aristoklhs · Post by **Aristoklhs** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:33 am

In Attic νώ=we two, σφώ=you two. First person dual and plural are the same.

Attic
- William W. Goodwin §389 page 82 (118 from 488)
- Herbert Weir Smyth §325 page 90 (105 from 799)
Homer
- Herbert Weir Smyth §325D page 91 (106 from 799)