Timeline for How can a native English speaker know when it is appropriate to use the polite (Sie) or the familiar (Du)?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
3 events
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| May 25, 2011 at 13:29 | comment | added | Jürgen A. Erhard | Laws? Now I'm curious. Got any links? I know that my superiors in the Bundeswehr addressed everyone, lower or higher (except when close friends with the person) with "Sie". | |
| May 24, 2011 at 21:05 | comment | added | Samuel Herzog | according to the Knigge addressing someone personal is the same as to invite him to use it too. Until some years ago it was okay for higher ranks (military, schoolteachers, ...) to address someone with a lower rank with 'Du' but being addressed with 'Sie'. Laws are prohibiting this form now. If you happen to meet someone who wants to be addressed politley but uses the personal form for you consider it as being very unpolite. | |
| May 24, 2011 at 20:53 | history | answered | Twelve47 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |