Calling linguists, anthropologists, and others who might know
I'm looking for a word, where currently I have a diagram. In the following diagram, - represents a romantic relationship and = represents a marriage.
A - B - C = D
Assuming that all the relationships are known to all parties (ie, no cheating) and that A and D know each other only through their respective partners, is there a word (in English or in any other language) for the relationship of A to D?
(The things that come up in conversation...)
Linguistic solicitation #2: felicity judgments! (non-linguists especially encouraged to reply, but this is still informal; I'm just testing a hunch)
For each of the following sentences, read them (preferably aloud, preferably no more than twice each) and rate Speaker B's sentence as + (acceptable), - (unacceptable), or ? (unsure), based on whether or not they would sound odd in a conversation. Note that I'm not asking you whether they're "good grammar," just whether they would make your ears perk up or confuse you if you heard someone say them in everyday speech.
1) Speaker A: I'm so excited, I got the adviser I've had my heart set on!
Speaker B: Oh, really? What makes them so special?
2) Speaker A: Hey, I heard you met my adviser yesterday!
Speaker B: Yeah, they seem really cool.
3) Speaker A: Do you have any idea who your adviser will be?
Speaker B: No; I just hope they know what they're doing.
Thanks, all - you are lovely, lovely people for putting up with this. :c)
A - B - C = D
Assuming that all the relationships are known to all parties (ie, no cheating) and that A and D know each other only through their respective partners, is there a word (in English or in any other language) for the relationship of A to D?
(The things that come up in conversation...)
Linguistic solicitation #2: felicity judgments! (non-linguists especially encouraged to reply, but this is still informal; I'm just testing a hunch)
For each of the following sentences, read them (preferably aloud, preferably no more than twice each) and rate Speaker B's sentence as + (acceptable), - (unacceptable), or ? (unsure), based on whether or not they would sound odd in a conversation. Note that I'm not asking you whether they're "good grammar," just whether they would make your ears perk up or confuse you if you heard someone say them in everyday speech.
1) Speaker A: I'm so excited, I got the adviser I've had my heart set on!
Speaker B: Oh, really? What makes them so special?
2) Speaker A: Hey, I heard you met my adviser yesterday!
Speaker B: Yeah, they seem really cool.
3) Speaker A: Do you have any idea who your adviser will be?
Speaker B: No; I just hope they know what they're doing.
Thanks, all - you are lovely, lovely people for putting up with this. :c)