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Many European languages also have politeness levels (often just two levels, where the plural or third person is usually used for the polite level). English had

Many European languages also have politeness levels (often just two levels, where the plural or third person is usually used for the polite level). English had a similar distinction in the past, with distinct singular/plural pronouns "thou"/"you", and the plural "you" being used for polite speech, but of course "thou" has disappeared over time.

hnbad 4y ago
FWIW I think English still retains additional politeness levels in the form of addressing someone in third rather than second person, although this is mostly seen as archaic. In media you'll typically see servants do this when addressing masters/lordship.
- tsimionescu 4y ago
  Could you give an example? Not a native speaker, and I don't think I've ever heard or read anyone using third person to refer to the person they are directly addressing.
  - Blikkentrekker 4y ago
    “Would m'lord want another cup of tea?” opposed to “you” is stereotypical language of servants to noblemen. Even more formal is of using proxy objects, as in to not refer to a person directly, but some quality of him, “your highness” is the most obvious example.
    - tsimionescu 4y ago
      Ohh, I understand what you mean now, thanks! I was thinking of something like "would he like a cup of tea?" when you said third person, and that didn't seem to match anything I'd heard/read, so I was feeling very confused.
      - hnbad 4y ago
        Yes, I was thinking honorifics and such instead of pronouns.
samatman 4y ago
It didn't just disappear, though, the story is more interesting than that. England had an outbreak of religious fanaticism, there was a regicide, dictatorship, a bunch of the losers got kicked out of the country and ended up in the colonies. The Dissenters, also known as the Ranters and Levelers, refused to use the formal pronoun, and insisted of calling everyone 'thou'. The pendulum swung pretty hard and English dropped thou entirely in response.

hnbad 4y ago

FWIW I think English still retains additional politeness levels in the form of addressing someone in third rather than second person, although this is mostly seen as archaic. In media you'll typically see servants do this when addressing masters/lordship.

tsimionescu 4y ago
Could you give an example? Not a native speaker, and I don't think I've ever heard or read anyone using third person to refer to the person they are directly addressing.
- Blikkentrekker 4y ago
  “Would m'lord want another cup of tea?” opposed to “you” is stereotypical language of servants to noblemen. Even more formal is of using proxy objects, as in to not refer to a person directly, but some quality of him, “your highness” is the most obvious example.
  - tsimionescu 4y ago
    Ohh, I understand what you mean now, thanks! I was thinking of something like "would he like a cup of tea?" when you said third person, and that didn't seem to match anything I'd heard/read, so I was feeling very confused.
    - hnbad 4y ago
      Yes, I was thinking honorifics and such instead of pronouns.

samatman 4y ago

It didn't just disappear, though, the story is more interesting than that. England had an outbreak of religious fanaticism, there was a regicide, dictatorship, a bunch of the losers got kicked out of the country and ended up in the colonies. The Dissenters, also known as the Ranters and Levelers, refused to use the formal pronoun, and insisted of calling everyone 'thou'. The pendulum swung pretty hard and English dropped thou entirely in response.