You Can Du Me: The Du/Sie Question
February 21st, 2009
The question of du or Sie, informal versus formal “you,” is a perennial one for expats in a place like Germany. Many European languages make a linguistic distinction based on interpersonal relationships. These distinctions have fallen out of use in modern English.
Lucky for those learning English. But expats learning the German language and culture frequently struggle with the question of informal versus the formal. When you are in the midst of a strange culture, you are constantly out of your safety zone. Any faux pas, no matter how slight, becomes a major drama in your own mind. Getting du/Sie wrong can lead to self-doubt and undermining yourself as you try to acclimate in a land of strangers who never quite act the way you think they should. (more…)
Categories: Daily life, Expat issues, German language, German vocabulary, History and culture, learning German | Tags: du, expat life, Geoff, German language, language, Sie | No Comments
