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> For example, to most Europeans, the idea that you would need to estimate your social rank to properly address someone is utterly alien. German is well known
by User23 4y ago
> For example, to most Europeans, the idea that you would need to estimate your social rank to properly address someone is utterly alien.
German is well known for having different pronouns based on social rank and familiarity.
- kergonath 4y agoTwo of them, just like in French or Spanish: a standard one and a polite form for people you don’t know. Social rank does not factor in this.
- User23 4y agoI was familiar with my teachers and they still got addressed as “sie” exactly because a teacher socially outranks a student.
- kergonath 4y agoNot really. Even the children of vips (however you want to measure social status, either wealth, political power, or whatever; it’s not really rare to outrank teachers socially) say “sie” to their teachers or to strangers.