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

On 10/23/06, caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...> wrote:
> The verb is "tutear."
¡Gracias!

> If there is one equivalent to "siezen," I'm not aware of it.
Hm.   I suppose if there were it'd be "ustedear".  Doesn't exactly
flow trippingly off the tongue...


> Recently my parishioners told me that, as their pastor, I
> should "tutear" them.  They continue to use Usted when addressing me.
That asymmetry would seem to match the "father" title...

> My parishes are in Appalachia, part of the American "Bible Belt."
> Many will not address me as "father" because of their interpretation
> of Jesus' words.  I respect their view but, as they call their own
> pastors "reverend" or "pastor," it would be polite to address me
> so.
They may have had a similar experience to mine all of the Catholic
Priests I've known personally have preferred to be called "Father" +
given name (Father Mike, Father John, etc).  That American
overfamiliarity thing is like a plague. :)  (I'm also in the Bible
Belt, down south of the mountains.)

> However, there still is a lingering anti-Catholicism in many parts of our nation.
Especially down here, I suspect.  On the other hand, the Catholics
have had a couple millennia to tick people off at them, and it may
take a while yet to come back from that.  Going the other way, the
Protestants in general have only had a few centuries - the Southern
Baptists in particular less than two.  But give them time and I'm sure
they'll catch up. :)


--
Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>