Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] We and us

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>
  • To: Uri Hurwitz <uhurwitz AT yahoo.com>
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] We and us
  • Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:49:04 +0000

On 14/11/2006 17:36, Uri Hurwitz wrote:
Peter kirk wrote, in part:
..."in English there is no politeness distinction in second person
pronouns, "...
Wasn't there a clear social distinction between 'thou' and 'you' in the past, a distinction clearly retained in current German between 'Du' and 'Sie' ?
Yes, in the past, but not since the 17th century. Note that I wrote "there is", not "there was". "Thou" is still in use in a few dialects, but not I think with a consistent politeness related distinction.

--
Peter Kirk
E-mail: peter AT qaya.org
Blog: http://speakertruth.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.qaya.org/





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page