Over the years, I’ve never been a classic “geek” in the truest sense of the word, but I have some crazy innate desire to learn about everything that sometimes comes close enough. Today, that meant I spent a few minutes of rest time looking up the modern day usage of the Spanish pronoun “usted.”
The short layman summary is that there are at least two words used throughout the Spanish-speaking world for “you.” One is more formal and the other is generally more intimate in a non-sexual way.I’ve heard from a source or two that the more formal “usted” was on its way out in some places in favor of the more friendly “tu.” Which made me think (like others) about our English changeover from using “thee” and “thou” to “you.”
Is there a changing sense of how formally we relate to each other that’s seen in a language change like this? I think it’s safe to say “yes” in English, but what if this truly is a more global phenomena as the article linked to above and others suggests?
Does this change in thinking reflect a greater ease and sense of respect ? Or does it reflect a decreasing sense of respect for the innate of others? Or is there some dynamic linked to the industrial revolution that is still occurring in developing parts of the world? I’m curious.
Update from a French teacher: Yes, in french there is a formal you “VOUS” and an common you “TU”. “VOUS” is always used if you don’t know the person or if the person is older than you (senior respect). ÂÂ
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Sunday July.8.2007 at 1:32 pm PDT
Elaine Futrell
Well, the use of tú and Usted in Spanish is still a very big deal culturally. Older generations (or superiors in a professional capacity, or a stranger) will get very upset with a young person that initiates a tuteo, or the first calling of the other person by tú. Once an older person (boss, or new acquaintance) has given permission to a younger person, they then may use the tú form, otherwise it is culturally preferred to use the Usted form as a means of showing respect. Most Spanish teachers insist that students refer to them as Usted. Because of my age, I allow mine to call me by tú most of the time. Also, it´s common to use the tú form with close family members and friends. Spanish even has a verb that signifies “the permission to call someone tú.” It is tutear. It´s a crazy concept, one that many Americans don´t understand, but it is of great importance in Spanish-speaking cultures.
The vosotros form, on the other hand, is dying out in latin america. It is only used commonly in Spain. Vosotros is the plural of tú, equivalent to the Texan English pronoun “y´all.” The formal plural pronoun, Ustedes, is more commonly used to refer to a group of people (you all). You do hear a new pronoun emerging in some parts of Latin America, the vos form. Vos is another informal “you” pronoun, equivalent to tú, but used interchangeably with the tú and vosotros verb forms. It is never a part of written language, unless included in the dialogue of a novel, and it seems to be used differently depending on the speaker. It is very colloquial.
Hope that helps!!! I like talking about all this. It fascinates me and I have spent lots of time thinking about it over the years.