Re:Did English ever have a formal version of "you"? (2011)
by brnt on Sunday December 24, 2023 @03:26PM
(#38756542)
In the Netherlands, it is very regional whether or not you use the polite form. In the capital region, it is not used, and use is a signifier you are from the countryside, if your accent wasn't enough. There are courses on how to get rid of your accent (or rather, get one of the capital region), and ceasing the employ of the polite form is featured.
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Re:Did English ever have a formal version of "you"? (2011)
by NewsyHacker on Sunday December 24, 2023 @03:44PM
(#38756659)
I’m surprised to read this, inasmuch as when I briefly lived in Rotterdam (if “capital region” comprises it, too) some years ago, my local acquaintances coached me in where to use the formal, and where to use the informal, and the distinction seemed very much alive.
Re:Did English ever have a formal version of "you"? (2011)
by brnt on Monday December 25, 2023 @02:39AM
(#38760610)
A Rotterdammer using the polite form is the Dutch equivalent of angels flying out of ones bumhole: I've never seen it.
Joking aside: theres the school version of pioitesse, and the actual version.
Re:Did English ever have a formal version of "you"? (2011)
by tacker2000 on Sunday December 24, 2023 @06:32PM
(#38758086)
Thats funny because in Austria it’s the other way around. People in Vienna are used to being overpolite and will use the formal “Sie” abundantly, whereas on the countryside everyone is always almost “Du”. There is the saying: “Am Land sind alle per Du”.
Re:Did English ever have a formal version of "you"? (2011)
by brnt on Monday December 25, 2023 @03:06AM
(#38760757)
It isn't difficult to see why. Vienna was an imperial capital, the Netherlands 'capital region' was ruled by (wealthy) capitalists. One group would be focused on courtesy, the other on efficiency, wouldn't they?
Naturally, both are ultimately evolved into appearance, not substance (because of courae this difference isnt substantial).