Re: ga'i[nai]

[ucleaar <ucleaar@ucl.ac.uk>]

gahinai, I agree with Bob Chassell:
> In my experience,  Zipf's rule fails for obsequiousness:  Those who
> express lower rank use more words.
>
> {ga'inai}, {e'o} keep the definition of {ga'i} as is.

The use of extra syllables is iconic: the humble speaker puts
themself out for the addressee; the addressee is worth the
extra effort. It is to inferiors or intimates that one is
peremptory.
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mihelahomo. And mo.