The initial stages of courting behavior?

[keannu]

Is this "courting" general dating or the behavior of trying to attract a woman? The dictionary has more meanings of the latter than the former. Do Americans generally use "courting" as dating?

ex)Silence plays as an important part in the Western Apache's societies as any verbal talk does......The initial stages of courting behavior also require silence; in this case, silence is taken to be a proper indication of the shyness that is expected between two people attempting to enter into a close relationship. They regard talkativeness in such a situation, especially in the female of the pair, as immodest.

 

[Mannysteps]

Not a teacher

How I see it:

courting - seeking or attracting someone's affection or attention

dating- going out with someone on a regular basis


M.

 

[keannu]

Not a teacher

How I see it:

courting - seeking or attracting someone's affection or attention

dating- going out with someone on a regular basis


M.

But I wonder if they use "courting behavior" as "dating behavior"(I guess not), and if they ever use courting as dating. I'd like to know the trend and it's kind of defined as one of the meaning in the dictionary.

 

[Mannysteps]

My uses:

John has fallen head over heels for this new girl at work. He always arranges having lunch together, always walks her to the tube station and buys her flowers, candy and whathaveyou. He is now building up the courage to invite to the movies and a romantic dinner this weekend. He hopes that all this courting will earn her heart and that soon they'll be dating on a regular basis and maybe one day get married. Who knows?

Corny, I know, but I hopes it homes in my point. Maybe others would use "courting" and "dating" arbitrarily. I tend not to.

M.

 

[keannu]

My uses:

John has fallen head over heels for this new girl at work. He always arranges having lunch together, always walks her to the tube station and buys her flowers, candy and whathaveyou. He is now building up the courage to invite to the movies and a romantic dinner this weekend. He hopes that all this courting will earn her heart and that soon they'll be dating on a regular basis and maybe one day get married. Who knows?

Corny, I know, but I hopes it homes in my point. Maybe others would use "courting" and "dating" arbitrarily. I tend not to.

M.

I'm sorry I don't understand the last line.

 

[Tdol]

Courting for dating is rather old-fashioned IMO, though you will hear courting couples used. I mostly hear it used when there is a fixed pattern of behaviour in a society like the example you give or with animals that behave in certain ways, in both cases to attract or get things started.

 

[Raymott]

But I wonder if they use "courting behavior" as "dating behavior"(I guess not), and if they ever use courting as dating. I'd like to know the trend and it's kind of defined as one of the meaning in the dictionary.

"Courting" is not used much any more, apart from describing animal behaviour or, as you've described in sociology or anthropology.
You'll probably never need to use "courting".