Chapter 11 - Tu/Vous Flashcards
What languages have T/V distinctions?
Latin, Russian, Italian, German, Swedish and Greek
How did the T/V distinction originate
The Latin antiquity only had one form ‘tu’. Vos was used to address the emperor for 2 reasons
- There were two emperors (east and west) who were administratively unified
- An emperor is the summation of his people (uses nos - reciprocal is vos)
What was the consequence of using the plural form to address the emperor?
◦ by the Middle Ages the UC began to use V
forms among themselves:
- to show mutual respect & politeness
How can T/V usage be asymmetrical? what does this symbolize?
Upper class addresses lower class with Tu but they receive Vous
- symbolizes a power relationship
ex. Master to servant
What does symmetrical T/V usage indicate?
Symmetrical V = 'polite', spread downward except to lowest class Symmetrical T = 'intimacy', came to replace V since solidarity overrides politeness
Where is there symmetrical T/V usage today where it used to be asymmetrical?
asymmetrical = mutual V for officer and soldier asymmetrical = mutual T for father/son, employer/employee
How is T used in German?
◦ almost automatically use with all relatives
(close and distant)
T = solidarity of family
How is T used in French?
◦ less to distant relatives
◦ more to fellow students, clerks, countrymen abroad, etc.
T = acquired solidarity
Who has the right to initiate a change from asymmetrical T/V or mutual V to mutual T?
Usually the superior initiates the change
◦ Solidarity is said to come gracefully:
◦ the elder > the younger;
◦ the richer > the poorer, etc.
* Impossible to go back from mutual T to T/V or V/V without changing the social relationship
According to Brown and Gilman : a young French male who regularly used T to female fellow students would favor …
the nationalization of industry, free love, trial marriage, the abolition of capital punishment, and the weakening of nationalistic and religious loyalties.
* similar results for italian
What are the different T/V usages within french?
- St. pierre island and Newfoundland use Tu with all kin
- Quebec use vous for distant relatives, most conservative T/V usage
St. Pierre and Laval require acquaintanceship beyond the family
How did the advertising company in Paris employ tu?
- always tu except to the owner and the cleaning woman
◦ tu - with intimate acquaintances & extremely subordinate
Historically ___ continues to replace ___ everywhere
Tu replaces Vous
Rules for shifting from vous to Tu?
- No precise rules for shifting from V to T
◦ Speakers usually wait until the otherperson uses T to address them
◦ You cannot judge who has power
◦ Therefore settle for politeness
◦ Wait until the other indicates solidarity
What is the T/V distinction in Tamil?
- Tamil-speaking societies in India are caste- based :
◦ the lower the caste, the greater T usage
◦ Upper castes: considerable symmetrical V or some T/V
