Re: R: Re: Old Norse (was Re: New to the list)

Egregio signore:

Mangiat <mangiat@...> wrote:

"Well, in Italian you have even more (litterary Italian): just three days ago
I received a brochure where it was written: 'La S.V. è invitata allo
spettacolo', where S.V. stands for Signoria Vostra , something like Your
Majesty. No sarcastic style. AFAIR, during the centuries we've had:
LEI (litterary = she) used with strangers, teachers and work bosses. The
gender is female, but it's used even with men (my dialect has somehow
reatined 'lüü' for men and 'lée' for women)."

Luca, where did this form come from? IIRC, Bruno Migliorini's book "Storia della
lingua italiana" claims that the use of LEI was calqued on Spanish "usted," but
I don't buy it. It seems awfully like German to me (or perhaps the German is
calqued on the Italian? I dunno).

Which dialect do you speak? Not dialatt bulgnais, perchance?

Another question for the list: Spanish usted, while traditionally derived from a
Spanish honorific, looks and sounds awfully similar to Ar. ustaadh, "doctor,"
also used as a sign of respect. Is this just a happy coincidence?


"VOI 2p once upon a time used with parents and relatives, but not
grandparents (always addressed with TU, they're too kind : )"


A formal "voi" has an almost fascistic sound to my ears.


-Carlo



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