Is there a scientific theory about how the diversity of languages evolved? Or are linguists just like, "language is weird, we tried our best but we can't really splain it good?"
I'm kind of baffled by the question, to be honest. On the one hand, the world's languages are all quite similar, in that they use a sign system to encode meaning, and, beyond that, they all seem to have hit on nouns and verbs. If you've got that, surely the rest of the variation isn't that wild. But also it doesn't require much theory...? Like language change is observable in real time. Everyone experiences it by observing subtle variations in the speech of those who are younger than them—and in different regions. Multiply that by many generations and many different places and pretty soon you rather naturally end up with a lot of diversity.
In short, linguists have been able to explain this pretty well for a long, long time, but it was rather low-hanging fruit, I'd say.
Tonight in band, our director described a piece of music as "a real buckle-polisher" and seemed surprised when nobody in the band knew what he meant. So now I'm curious.
Apparently, a buckle-polisher is a piece of music that (when played in a high school dance) gets people dancing so closely/tightly with their partner that their buckles get polished.
하십시오체 (Hasipsioche) is the highest and most formal speech level in Korean. It is used in very formal and respectful situations, such as when speaking to individuals of higher social status, superiors, or in formal settings like official documents, ceremonies, or public speeches.
Key characteristics of 하십시오체 include:
1. Politeness: 하십시오체 employs honorific language and polite expressions to show respect to the listener. This includes the use of honorific verb endings, honorific nouns, and respectful forms of speech.
2. Verb endings: Verbs in 하십시오체 typically end in -하십시오 (-hasipsio) to indicate polite requests, commands, or statements. The verb stem undergoes changes depending on the verb stem ending.
Example: 가다 (gada) - to go
- 가십시오 (gasipsio) - Please go (polite form)
3. Honorific nouns: Specific nouns are used to address individuals with respect, such as 선생님 (seonsaengnim) for teacher, 사장님 (sajangnim) for company president, or 교수님 (gyosunim) for professor.
4. Polite expressions: Polite expressions like 께서 (kkeoseo) or 사절 (sajeol) are used to show respect when referring to the listener or asking for permission.
5. Formal vocabulary: In 하십시오체, formal vocabulary is used to convey a sense of respect and formality. This includes using formal terms for greetings, titles, and expressions of politeness.
It's important to note that 하십시오체 is used in specific formal contexts and may not be suitable for casual or informal situations. When using this speech level, it's crucial to pay attention to the social status and relationship between the speaker and the listener. Proper usage of 하십시오체 demonstrates politeness and respect in Korean communication.