The fact is that in many languages, there isn’t a word for “dating.” For a fact, few cultures around the world actually “date”. So what does it mean to date? And how do other people get to know one another before committing to a relationship? These are some of the most pressing questions the average teenager and adult wants to know, and here are some answers as best as I could find.
For example, among native French speakers – you can find these in France, Belgium, parts of Canada, and Switzerland -, the concept of dating is confusing, and to describe dating they say “We are going out together”, much like in Yoruba language too. In some cultures, you are in a relationship once you make your intentions known, and commit yourself to ONLY one person. Yet in other places, dating is in stages. Let’s take it one step at a time.
1. Intention
If your desire is to get to know the other person for a possible romantic partnership, you’re on a date.
2. Getting to Know each Other
The act of getting to know one another over a period of time is called DATING.
What Dating Is
Dating is a way to get to know a complete stranger (or an acquaintance) to see if they’re a possible romantic partner for the long term. It isn’t an excuse to ‘test the merchandise‘, or ‘see how I feel in six months’, or even ‘give him a taste’. It is really a method – and a pretty intelligent one at that – to get to know someone before you bond physically with that person.
What Dating Is Not
Dating is not the same as hooking up, friends with benefits, casual dating and all manner of things. Because unlike dating, there’s no intention of determining if you are romantically compatible with the person, and neither is there any intention of committing to a long-term relationship. You are just having fun, and making things up as you go along. So, never confuse these (hooking up, friends with benefits, casual dating and the like) for dating!
So now that you know the difference, you are armed with the right information to make intelligent decisions about your romantic life – and your heart if I might add!
See Also: 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Fool Around With Your Crush
