1

I'm about to take a degree in Linguistics and Japanese. I want to explain my thought that linguistics supplements Japanese, and Japanese supplements linguistics. Is there a single verb that implies two entities support each other in this way? "Symbiotic" is a useful adjective, but it's not quite appropriate, because it suggests that the two entities depend on one another for survival. I'm merely trying to express that the two entities enhance or add to one another in some way. I was thinking that a verb like "cosupplement" and "cosupport" would work, but they don't appear to exist as words.

Linguistics and Japanese [mutually add to/supplement] one another.

A noun that refers to two entities adding to one another would also work nicely, as in:

Linguistics and Japanese are [mutually supplementary].

Improve this question
7
  • I wonder if you mean to say that the study of Japanese and linguistics supplement each other.
    – GMB
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 15:53
  • Do you mean to say that "the study of Japanese and linguistics supplement each other" fits what I'm looking for exactly? Or are you saying that I'm mistaken in my belief that these two subjects supplement one another?
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 15:56
  • No, I just wanted to clarify that the study of the two disciplines, rather than the disciplines themselves is what you are talking about. I do not doubt your supposition that they support one another.
    – GMB
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 15:58
  • Oh yeah, you've got it. I'm talking about the study, not the disciplines themselves.
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 16:02
  • Symbiotic seems like the perfect word to describe a mutually supplementing relationship. Is there an aspect of it that makes it unsuitable for your purposes?
    – pyrAmider
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 16:03

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
7

Synergistic - of or pertaining to synergy or synergism; co-operative, working together, interacting, mutually stimulating.

Linguistic and Japanese are synergistic.

en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=synergistic

Improve this answer
0
5

You could say that:

Linguistics and Japanese complement each other.

It implies that they help each other, but not to such a degree that they are intrinsically linked.

It definitely says what you want, but perhaps not in strong enough terms.

Improve this answer
1
  • Yes, this is also a good word. Everybody has put forward good suggestions. I guess I was hoping for a verb that didn't require an object, but as I explained to GMB this was a stupid expectation.
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 22, 2014 at 9:07
2

"Japanese and linguistics mutually reinforce each other." is what comes to my mind.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Also a nice solution :).
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 22:19
0

Possible phrasings, if for some reason the word supplement won't do, are "the study of Japanese and linguistics feed or nourish or enrich or stimulate one another."

Improve this answer
4
  • Oh, I was hoping that there would be some word that didn't require a pronoun like "one another", but on reflection that's probably a naive expectation, because any verb between two entities would surely be transitive and therefore must have an object.
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 16:07
  • No, you're right, "supplement" is probably the best I'm going to get. I wonder if there is an adjective that singularly expresses the notion of mutual supplementation, though.
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 16:07
  • One of your original phrasings could avoid the need to include "one another" or some such, by saying "(the study of) Japanese and linguistics are mutually supplementary."
    – GMB
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 16:13
  • You're right, that could work nicely.
    – Lou
    Commented Jun 21, 2014 at 16:20
0

Mutualism is defined as two elements that benefit each other. Thus, having a mutualistic relationship. Symbiosis is when the benefits of the combined two elements are greater than each individually. Thus, having a symbiotic relationship.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .