English personal pronouns
1st person singular I
2nd person singular you
3rd person singular s/he/it
1st person plural we
2nd person plural you all (y'all)
3rd person plural they
Yolngu Matha personal pronouns
1st person singular ngarra
2nd person singular nhe
3rd person singular ngayi
1st person dual inclusive ngali
1st person dual exclusive linyu
1st person plural inclusive limurr
1st person plural exclusive napurr
2nd person plural nhuma
3rd person dual manda
3rd person plural nhuma
Confused? Basically this means you can talk about someone in a gender-neutral way.
Also, here's a conversation I had with a colleague today that made me realise how awesome the inclusive/exclusive concept is.
English:
We (James and I) worked on it today and if you're free tomorrow we (you and I) could go over it and then on Friday we (colleagues other than you plus I) have a meeting until ten, but after that we (you, James and I) could finish it off.
Yolngu Matha (or at least, YM pronouns- keeping the rest in English out of respect for the English-only readers):
Linyu worked on it today, and if nhe are free tomorrow ngali could go over it and then on Friday napurr have a meeting until 10, but after that limurr could finish it off.
Am I the only one who finds that exciting? Still confused? Study another language, it changes your world.... :)
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