Bikol/Inclusive and Exclusive We
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Distinction between inclusive we and exclusive we is required in Bikol. Inclusive "we" specifically includes the addressees (that is, one of the words for "we" means "you and I"), while exclusive "we" specifically excludes them (that is, another word for "we" means "them and I, but not you"), regardless of who else may be involved.
Bikol has two words which are equivalent to the English word we. If you intend to include the person or people you are talking to, the word to use is kita. If the subject does not include your listener(s), then the correct word would be kami.
In linguistics, clusivity is a distinction between inclusive and exclusive first-person pronouns and verbal morphology, also called inclusive "we" and exclusive "we". Inclusive "we" specifically includes the addressees (that is, one of the words for "we" means "you and I"), while exclusive "we" specifically excludes them (that is, another word for "we" means "he/she/they and I, but not you"), regardless of who else may be involved.
Clusivity paradigms may be summarized as a two-by-two grid (this grid addresses only plural forms):
| Includes the addressee? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | ||
| Includes the speaker? |
Yes | Inclusive we | Exclusive we |
| No | 2nd person | 3rd person | |
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