Re: ash nazg on my pinky because it's too small

Danny Wier scripsit:

> For example, to the ruling Qotil group, the "thou" form has
> become a vulgarity. It is only used in expressions of contempt (the 2nd
> plural is used normally),
So it was in 17th century English.  When Edward Coke, the judge, desired
to anger Raleigh at his 1603 trial, he addressed him with the insulting
words, "All that Lord Cobham did was at thy instigation, thou viper:
for I thou thee, thou traitor."  Note the nice use of "thou" as a verb.
Shakespeare parodies this use in "Twelfth Night".

The 2sg expresses familiarity, whether contemptuous, condescending (superior
to inferior), familial, or even reverent.

--
John Cowan                              jcowan@reutershealth.com
http://www.reutershealth.com            http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
Humpty Dump Dublin squeaks through his norse
                Humpty Dump Dublin hath a horrible vorse
But for all his kinks English / And his irismanx brogues
                Humpty Dump Dublin's grandada of all rogues.
                        --Cousin James