T & V Pronouns
Titles & Names
English 0301雷月琴
T & V Pronouns
? Some languages have different forms for,you”
? (French,tu/vous”,German,du/Sie”,for example),These may originally have
indicated number (“vous” and,Sie”) used for plural forms,but now show
different levels of formality,with,tu”and,du” being more familiar,“vous”
and,Sie” more polite,
T & V Pronouns
? In English this was shown historically by the contrast
between,you” and,thou/thee”,The,thou”
form survives in some dialects,while other familiar
pronoun forms are,youse”(Liverpool) and,you-all”
(southern USA),Where it is possible to make the
distinction,this is known as a T/V system of address,
T & V Pronouns
? In this system the V form is a marker of politeness or deference,
It may also be a marker of status,with the V form used to superiors,
the T form to equals or inferiors,Tforms are also used to express
solidarity or intimacy,
? The T form is found in Shakespeare's plays,where it
almost always shows the speaker's attitude to status and situation,
T & V Pronouns
? A king is,your
majesty” or,you”
but a peasant is
“thou”,
? It may be an insult,as
when Tybalt
addresses Romeo as
“thou” (“Romeo,thou
art a villain”; Romeo
and Juliet,Act 3,
Scene 3),
T & V Pronouns
? It is also found in petrified or,frozen” language forms,such as the stylized speech
of the Society of Friends (“Quakers”) or other non-conformist groups,like
Mennonites or the Pennsylvania Amish,in orders of service and prayers,Oddly,many
modern speakers think that,thou” (being,old”) is more formal or courteous than
“you” - when the reverse is the case!
Titles & Names
? In English,we also express status and attitude through titles,first names and
last names,Titles are such things as Professor,Dr,Sir,Dame,Fr,(Father),
Mr,Mrs,Miss,Rabbi,Sr,(Sister) and,in the USA,even such things as coach
and chef.
? Note that we abbreviate some of these in writing,but not in speaking - we
write,Mr.” but say,mister”,
Titles & Names
? First names may be given names (Fred,
Susan) but include epithets such as chief,
guv,mate,man,pal,Last names are
usually family names,In general,use of
these on their own suggests lack of
deference (“Oi,Smith...”) but in some
contexts (public schools,the armed forces)
they are norms.
Titles & Names
? If one speaker uses title and last name
(TLN),and the other first name (FN)
only,we infer difference in status,
The social superior (the FN speaker)
may invite the inferior to use FN in
response,
? A,Professor Cringeworthy?
? B,Do call me Cuthbert.
? A,Lord Archer?
? B,Please,it's Jeffrey.
Titles & Names
? In schools teachers use FN (or FNLN when
reprimanding or being sarcastic) in speaking to
pupils and receive T (“Sir”) or TLN (“Miss
Brodie”) in reply.,Miss” is addressed to women
teachers,even where the speaker knows or
believes them to be married,
Titles & Names
? In English avoidance of address is
often acceptable - thus where French speakers say,Bonsoir,
Monsieur”,English speakers may
say merely,“Good evening”
(Omitting the address in France
would seem impolite.)
Titles & Names
English 0301雷月琴
T & V Pronouns
? Some languages have different forms for,you”
? (French,tu/vous”,German,du/Sie”,for example),These may originally have
indicated number (“vous” and,Sie”) used for plural forms,but now show
different levels of formality,with,tu”and,du” being more familiar,“vous”
and,Sie” more polite,
T & V Pronouns
? In English this was shown historically by the contrast
between,you” and,thou/thee”,The,thou”
form survives in some dialects,while other familiar
pronoun forms are,youse”(Liverpool) and,you-all”
(southern USA),Where it is possible to make the
distinction,this is known as a T/V system of address,
T & V Pronouns
? In this system the V form is a marker of politeness or deference,
It may also be a marker of status,with the V form used to superiors,
the T form to equals or inferiors,Tforms are also used to express
solidarity or intimacy,
? The T form is found in Shakespeare's plays,where it
almost always shows the speaker's attitude to status and situation,
T & V Pronouns
? A king is,your
majesty” or,you”
but a peasant is
“thou”,
? It may be an insult,as
when Tybalt
addresses Romeo as
“thou” (“Romeo,thou
art a villain”; Romeo
and Juliet,Act 3,
Scene 3),
T & V Pronouns
? It is also found in petrified or,frozen” language forms,such as the stylized speech
of the Society of Friends (“Quakers”) or other non-conformist groups,like
Mennonites or the Pennsylvania Amish,in orders of service and prayers,Oddly,many
modern speakers think that,thou” (being,old”) is more formal or courteous than
“you” - when the reverse is the case!
Titles & Names
? In English,we also express status and attitude through titles,first names and
last names,Titles are such things as Professor,Dr,Sir,Dame,Fr,(Father),
Mr,Mrs,Miss,Rabbi,Sr,(Sister) and,in the USA,even such things as coach
and chef.
? Note that we abbreviate some of these in writing,but not in speaking - we
write,Mr.” but say,mister”,
Titles & Names
? First names may be given names (Fred,
Susan) but include epithets such as chief,
guv,mate,man,pal,Last names are
usually family names,In general,use of
these on their own suggests lack of
deference (“Oi,Smith...”) but in some
contexts (public schools,the armed forces)
they are norms.
Titles & Names
? If one speaker uses title and last name
(TLN),and the other first name (FN)
only,we infer difference in status,
The social superior (the FN speaker)
may invite the inferior to use FN in
response,
? A,Professor Cringeworthy?
? B,Do call me Cuthbert.
? A,Lord Archer?
? B,Please,it's Jeffrey.
Titles & Names
? In schools teachers use FN (or FNLN when
reprimanding or being sarcastic) in speaking to
pupils and receive T (“Sir”) or TLN (“Miss
Brodie”) in reply.,Miss” is addressed to women
teachers,even where the speaker knows or
believes them to be married,
Titles & Names
? In English avoidance of address is
often acceptable - thus where French speakers say,Bonsoir,
Monsieur”,English speakers may
say merely,“Good evening”
(Omitting the address in France
would seem impolite.)
