According to Wikipedia, most linguists today consider it a myth that Eskimos have an unusually large number of words for snow. I am a little disappointed.
Actually, though I am thinking about words for 'friend'. We use 'friend' for almost any one and everyone from casual acquaintance, to co-worker we do not dislike, to kindred spirit and confidante, from short term playmate to life-long connection. Perhaps it is my lack of vocabulary, but words seem to be sadly inadequate for the range of relationships.
There are people I enjoy while life throws us together, but when we move on, we move on. There are people I treasure and feel connected to regardless of time and distance. There are people I have never met except electronically that I consider true friends. There are people who have seen me at my lowest and lifted me up.
from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend
In a comparison of personal relationships, friendship is considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association can be thought of as spanning across the same continuum. The study of friendship is included in the fields of sociology, social psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and zoology. Various academic theories of friendship have been proposed, among which are social exchange theory, equity theory, relational dialectics, and attachment styles.Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:
- The tendency to desire what is best for the other
- Mutual understanding and compassion
- Trust in one another (able to express feelings - including in relation to the other's actions - without the fear of being judged); able to go to each other for emotional support
- Positive reciprocity - a relationship is based on equal give and take between the two parties.
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