さよなら考 / About SAYONARA (Eng)
I have been doing some research on the parting phrase in various languages, inspired by MST102-san's comment. In Japanese, we don't have much variation. We only have "Sayonara" and "Mata-ne *1.
However, some languages have more than one group of various parting phrases. If you take a look at them, you will see some patterns how one group is different from the others. This is a report of the findings from my research, but the coverage of my research is only partial.
(1) Distinction based on the movement from parting location.
In Korean, there are two groups of parting phrases; one group is based on the use of verb "kada (to go)" and the other group is based on the verb "itta or keshida (to stay)".
When you invite someone to your house and that person leaves your house,
You: "Annyonnhi kaseyo"
Person: "Annyonnhi keseyo"
Here, "kaseyo" corresponds to "kada (to go)" and "keseyo" corresponds to "keshida (to stay)". So, your invitee to go (from your point of view) and you to stay (from the view point of the person).
On the other hand, when you are invited to somebody's house, that person will stay. So,
You: "Annyonnhi keseyo"
Person: "Annyonnhi kaseyo"
It doesn't matter whether you are invited or not. The only thing that matters is whether the person you say good bye leaves or stays. So, of course, there is a situation where both of you and the person say kaseyo like this.
You: "Annyonnhi kaseyo"
Person: "Annyonnhi kaseyo"
What kind of situation is this?
Yeah, when you go to a party and meet someone there. When both you and the person leaves from the party to different places. You both can say kaseyo.
Now, can you think of any situation like this?
You: "Annyonnhi keseyo"
Person: "Annyonnhi keseyo"
Raise your hand if your answer is yes.
Raise your hand if your answer is no.
All, right. The answer is...
Yes. Sorry, those who said no.
The situation is when you finish the phone conversation with someone because both you and the person will stay where you (and the person) were after the call. Don't be rediculous to say that "what if the person is calling from her cell and she moved away from where she was". Just follow the principle.
It's really hard to imagine any other occasions where both you and the person can say "keseyo". Mr. Kyle, please follow up on this.
(2) Distinction whether you actually meet the person or you talk with the person over phone.
While we are on the topic, let's continue talking more about the phone conversation. Many languages seem to have the distinction in parting phrases whether you were actually meeting hte person or you were talking with the person over phone.
In English, we say
See you later. (If you were actually meeting the person)
Talk to you later. (If you were talking to the person over phone.)
In German, they say
Auf Wiedersehen. (actually meet the person)
Auf Wiederhören (phone)
sehen corresponds to 'see'' in English and hören corresponds to 'hear'. In English, we used 'talk and in German they use 'hear' Interesting, huh?
In Chinese, good bye is 再見 (再 means again and 見 means to see). Here is to see again. Now, I thought you may say 再打 because 打電話 is to make a phone call. Or can you say 再説 where 説 means to speak? My friend told me that they always say "Bye Bye" when they finish the phone conversation.
Oh, well. I guess "Bye Bye" is everywhere.
Cheers,
