Re: Russian names (was: Re: A perfect day...)

On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 12:21:26 -0500, John Cowan <jcowan@...>
wrote:

<...>
>Can you explain the rest of the system?  This is what I think I understand:
>First names alone, ty:  intimate or casual
- Correct; but note that _ty_ goes better with the short form of first
name. Russian speakers remember which short form is derived from which
'official' name. Unlike what is usual in English, both forms are
perceived as variants of the same name.

>First names alone, vy:  polite between equals
>
>First name + patronymic: polite between non-equals
I would put it slightly different: 'distance' or 'formality' seem to be
more important than 'equality'.

It is rather a violation of the system that may stress the unequality.
E. g. a boss using 'ty' while addressing the workers who use 'vy' while
speaking to him/her.

>Title + last name: ultra-formal, bureaucratic, military
Mostly correct, but also used e. g. in correspondence when one doesn't
know the other's patronymic, and doesn't feel free enough to use the
first name alone.

Normally goes with 'vy'.

Add: last name alone, usually with 'ty': military, sports, etc. (like
in English, I think). With 'vy' - same, stressedly formal.

>Patronymic alone: ???
Yes, this form exists too. With 'ty'. Very informal, between people
stressing their common pertinence to an older age group, as opposed
to the young. First name + patronymic with 'ty' has about the same
meaning.

I don't mention various violations and their possible implications,
but there is one thing that may be worth noting. It seems that many
Russians, especially of younger generations, are sort of afraid to
look formal. So don't hurry to get offended if somebody in the street
addresses you in 'ty'...


Basilius