What's your favorite swear word/insult?

[abaris]

Oh and about Schlampe...you calls me a dirty whore in English all the time I love it

I never did it, if you're talking about me.

But one thing that always confused me about english, since I was a child, is the usage of "You".

You see, in German as well as spanish and french, there's a distinction. If you're talking to a friend, relative or close aquaintance, you say "Du", which basically means, they're close to you and you're on first name basis. When you're talking to a stranger, you say "Sie", which is basically kind of a pluralis majestatis.

In english there's only one "You". How do you make the distinction if that person is close to you or a total stranger? I mean, this may sound silly, but it's how our language works and sometimes I have my difficulties to make that crucial distinction in english, since it seems to be a cultural thing too. When we are talking I automatically think "Du".

[Losty]

Oh and about Schlampe...you calls me a dirty whore in English all the time I love it

I never did it, if you're talking about me.

But one thing that always confused me about english, since I was a child, is the usage of "You".

You see, in German as well as spanish and french, there's a distinction. If you're talking to a friend, relative or close aquaintance, you say "Du", which basically means, they're close to you and you're on first name basis. When you're talking to a stranger, you say "Sie", which is basically kind of a pluralis majestatis.

In english there's only one "You". How do you make the distinction if that person is close to you or a total stranger? I mean, this may sound silly, but it's how our language works and sometimes I have my difficulties to make that crucial distinction in english, since it seems to be a cultural thing too. When we are talking I automatically think "Du".

Bahaha oops that's just a typo. Should say "Vosur" not "you"

I never really got the point of the formal vs friendly you in Spanish. I don't understand why you would need it. I mean, you're talking to the person...so...like, they probably already know if they're close to you or if they're a stranger. They don't need you to clarify that for them haha.

[abaris]

I never really got the point of the formal vs friendly you in Spanish. I don't understand why you would need it. I mean, you're talking to the person...so...like, they probably already know if they're close to you or if they're a stranger. They don't need you to clarify that for them haha.

You see, that seems to be a cultural difference. We're making that distinction. If someone isn't close to you, you're using the polite "Sie". If they're closer, you're using "Du".

That's also why many Europeans consider the American way as kind of superficial, since when some businessman, not knowing me, offers to call him by his first name, I automatically think, you don't know me, you don't care about me and same to you buddy. Keep the ball low.

On some internet board it's different. You really get into talking with people. You get to know them, kind of and it's also usual in German to call people on the internet "Du".

[Whateverist]

Du du!

[The Grand Nudger]

We use sir and ma'am (and other titles like it....Mr. Mrs. Ms.) to accomplish what you're talking about in some capacities Abaris. In others we use the tone of our voice, and the familiarity of our chosen vocab. If, for example, I walked up to my boss and said "How the fuck are you?" - he's probably my buddy.....but if I asked someone at a store "Having a good day sir?" - he's probably not my friend (and he may be my boss...lol). Offering a first name is a pleasantry, generally meant to create a sense of familiarity which is desirable, or generally seen as desirable, btw. Dropping all the extraneous business of titles and such (unless we have to fire the poor fucker, at which point a man you may have called by first name for quite some time could insist upon formality - cutting that tie of familiarity to get the nasty business at hand done).

Kind of amusing though, to see that what may be intended as a gesture of good will is taken as an insult. I wonder if there are similar things from german to english?

[abaris]

Kind of amusing though, to see that what may be intended as a gesture of good will is taken as an insult. I wonder if there are similar things from german to english?

Not as an insult. It's just, well, empty. Hard to explain actually, but if you're on a first name basis here, you're pretty close. And if someone you haven't met in your whole life comes up offering it, there's usually some kind of reservation involved. Like, let's get to know each other a little bit better first.

There are exemptions of course. Situations where you meet up leisurely, say at a party or some concert.

And I'm not sure, if there's something working the other way round. It's not only german, it's Italian, Spanish and French too making a distinction when adressing someone being in a close relationship or someone you don't know. It's in all these languages.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yeah, in the context you mentioned, we often see it as empty as well. As in a used car salemans walks up, smiles, and says "Call me Billy".
-"Okay asshole"

(all those languages mentioned are part of a larger subset...while ours is technically there as well so many cultures and conventions got jumbled....it;s easy to see how a disconnect was formed. A majority of english words are actually of germanic origin. So take solace in that, we liked your vocabulary...just not the way you used it. )

-we have ways to make the same distinction in a different but not entirely dissimilar way.

[abaris]

Yeah, in the context you mentioned, we often see it as empty as well. As in a used car salemans walks up, smiles, and says "Call me Billy".
-"Okay asshole"

Exactly. So there's not that much of a difference after all.

[The Grand Nudger]

Not in perception, no. Just in the means of communication. That said...remove this from a business environment, and a stranger walking up with a "Morning Buddy!" is pretty well received - maybe we're just conversational optimists? "Morning Sweetheart" has a similar intent, but could be seen as insulting or inappropriately familiar depending upon how far north or south you go (and other considerations as well). Out of habit I use that one alot, and I call guys (even strangers) brother to no end. It gets me scowls in Boston and beers in Birmingham.

[abaris]

Not in perception, no. Just in the means of communication. That said...remove this from a business environment, and a stranger walking up with a "Morning Buddy!" is pretty well received - maybe we're just conversational optimists? "Morning Sweetheart" has a similar intent, but could be seen as insulting or inappropriately familiar depending upon how far north or south you go (and other considerations as well). Out of habit I use that one alot, and I call guys (even strangers) brother to no end. It gets me scowls in Boston and beers in Birmingham.

Yes, that's why I was talking about a leisurely environment. Even at work, we're on first name basis with pretty much only the boss excluded.

All in all I would say, the tone makes the music. We don't use words like buddy or brother, but it's in the way how you're talking to another person that makes all the difference.