Gerhard,

On Tue, 1 Aug 2006 09:07:37 -0300, Gerhard Fiedler wrote:

> Alan B. Pearce wrote:
> 
> >> One part of this is IMO that the English language doesn't provide (to my
> >> knowledge) an easy way to distinguish between "you" (singular) and
> >> "you" (plural).
> > 
> > My reaction is to say "yes it does", but the singular has dropped out of
> > use.
> > 
> > The singular for you is "thou", as used in the Bible, and the plural is
> > "you".
> 
> I didn't know that. While I of course have heard and read "thou" before, I
> had no idea that it is the singular of "you" -- and I had no idea that
> "you" is plural! Even though it makes sense, now that I know it.
> 
> Is this general knowledge, or am I in good company? :)

I've always thought that the second-person singular in English, German, and French (thou, du, tu) were being phased out and replaced by 
the plural (you, sie, vous), and that English is a bit ahead in the schedule!  "Thou" is decidedly archaic, and I've been told by germans 
that "du" rather sounds it too.  The overall effect is that the second person plural in each language *can* be used to address any number 
of people, including one, and I suspect that before much longer all three of the singulars will disappear except in old books, plays and 
films!

Incidentally, addressing someone as "you" without using their name can feel rather agressive in English - a bit like pointing a finger at 
them.

Cheers,


Howard Winter
St.Albans, England


-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist