michael (05/14/82)
Besides a singular form for social equals and inferiors (thee), English also had a corresponding plural form -- ye. "You" was used strictly to denote respect. In Spanish, "thee" corresponds to "tu," "ye" corresponds to "vosotros," and "you" corresponds to "usted" and "ustedes." "Vosotros" has already gone the way of "ye" in most Spanish-speaking countries. A couple of summers ago I was speaking to some Spaniards on a Spanish train. They were bemoaning a trend of using "usted" to the exclusion of the familiar "tu," since such unrestricted use removes any connotation of respect. So the Spanish "tu" may well go the way of "thou." Mike Morgan
jcwinterton (05/17/82)
Further to Mike Morgan's article on second person pronouns, in Italian the "tu" form is strictly familiar and used for family of equal and lower rank, comrades and girl friends (after agreement). "Voi is used as an intra-familial form of respect for uncles, aunts, parents, grandparents etc. The real formal form is "lei" which is the third person, feminine singular. As I recall it, my Italian prof said is is drivied from the phrase "Spero que la vostra signoria sta bene" (I hope your highness is well). Signoria is feminine and so the pronoun is "lei" (she, her). When you hear newly arrived Italian speakers who are learning English, it is common to hear them say "How's she going". (come state lei). I don't know how things are in Italy currently, but I suspect modern life has eroded a log s/log/lot/ of formalisms now. John Winterton.