Se llama - pronominal

Question

So, I was having a read of Lazarus' post here the uses of se and although the explanation about 'se llama' being pronominal makes sense on one level - 'mi madre se llama Carmen' she's called Carmen even if/though she doesn't call herself Carmen. I'm wondering about me llamo.

The next example given was 'se llama a sí mismo Superman' = reflexive - well that's all good, makes perfect sense - but can 'me llamo' be anything other than reflexive? And couldn't that mean that se llama without the 'a sí mismo' could just as easily be reflexive too?

Answer 1

Yes, I see people and textbooks get the translation of "me llamo..." wrong all the time. I like to think of it as, "I am called..." It makes a little more sense, and isn't quite as awkward.

Again, it's just one of those things that you can't translate literally word for word.

quite right :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 6, 2011

Answer 2

but can 'me llamo' be anything other than reflexive?

Me llamo can be reflexive or , mainly, pronominal.

Me llamo Pepa...pero en el foro me llamo (a mi misma) heidita.

for example

Me llamo does not mean I call myself...look up the article by lazarus

Answer 3

Ah thanx Heidi, I had missed that one - very good me llamo does not mean I call myself - by Lazarus