Re: German 'duzen' and 'siezen' - etymology ?

Carsten Becker skrev:
> From: "Benct Philip Jonsson" <bpjonsson@...>
> Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 8:41 AM
>
>> it occurred to me that in contemporary Swedish the
>> equivalent is to over-use a persons first name when
>> addressing them, as when telemarketers put "Benct" into
>> every sentence, implying an intimacy which doesn't exist.
>
> I had a classmate who did that just to tease me. It was
> annoying and it was meant so I think. It had nothing to do
> with implying a non-existant intimacy.
Clearly in such a context, and in a certain tone of voice,
it has that effect.  Especially if all involved are young and
male, to be sure.

Anyway I should perhaps be observant on how my son reacts
when I call him by name.

> Since somebody mentioned that earlier: It happenend to me
> last week that someone indeed used the "Er" form: "Was will
> Er denn fotografieren?" -- "What does He want to take a
> photo of?". I overheard it at first and only realized a
> moment later that this man indeed used "Er" instead of "du"
> or "Sie". Maybe he didn't know whether he should call me
> "du" or "Sie"? Some hundred years ago you used "Er" when you
> wanted to address somebody of a lower rank as I understand
> it. I have to google for that.
That's how it was in Sweden at the same time.  The third person
singular address implied both distance and that the addressee
was of low rank -- as when masters talked to their servants,
who in turn addressed them back with _herrn_ and _frun_.

> Carsten
>
> --
> "Miranayam kepauarà naranoaris." (Kalvin nay Hobbes)
> Venena, Sirpang 3, 2316 ya 09:01:00 pd
"Verbing weirds language?"

--


/BP 8^)>
--
Benct Philip Jonsson -- melroch at melroch dot se

    a shprakh iz a dialekt mit an armey un flot

                                 (Max Weinreich)