I'm So Fascinated By Languages With Different Levels Of Formality Built In Because It Immediately Introduces

I'm so fascinated by languages with different levels of formality built in because it immediately introduces such complex social dynamics. The social distance between people is palpable when it's built right into the language, in a way it's not really palpable in English.

So for example. I speak Spanish, and i was taught to address everyone formally unless specifically invited otherwise. People explained to me that "usted" was formal, for use with strangers, bosses, and other people you respect or are distant from, while "tú" is used most often between family and good friends.

That's pretty straightforward, but it gets interesting when you see people using "tú" as a form of address for flirting with strangers, or for picking a fight or intimidating someone. In other languages I've sometimes heard people switch to formal address with partners, friends or family to show when they are upset. That's just so interesting! You're indicating social and emotional space and hierarchy just in the words you choose to address the other person as "you"!!

Not to mention the "what form of address should I use for you...?" conversation which, idk how other people feel about it, but to me it always felt awkward as heck, like a DTR but with someone you're only just becoming comfortable with. "You can use tú with me" always felt... Weirdly intimate? Like, i am comfortable around you, i consider you a friend. Like what a vulnerable thing to say to a person. (That's probably also just a function of how i was strictly told to use formal address when i was learning. Maybe others don't feel so weird about it?)

And if you aren't going to have a conversation about it and you're just going to switch, how do you know when? If you switch too soon it might feel overly familiar and pushy but if you don't switch soon enough you might seem cold??? It's so interesting.

Anyway. As an English-speaking American (even if i can speak a bit of Spanish), i feel like i just don't have a sense for social distance and hierarchy, really, simply because there isn't really language for it in my mother tongue. The fact that others can be keenly aware of that all the time just because they have words to describe it blows my mind!

More Posts from Kaleidoscopechaos827 and Others

7 months ago
Boop ~(=^‥^)ノ✨

boop ~(=^‥^)ノ✨

1 month ago
Yesss Im Always Saying This Like Sure I Can Give You Logical Advice But At The End Of The Day You Can

yesss im always saying this like sure i can give you logical advice but at the end of the day you can just do what you want to do until youre sick of it. cant move on cant switch gears til youre sick of it so go ahead and indulge

7 months ago
By Licciyoc
By Licciyoc

by licciyoc


Tags
1 month ago

The YouTube channel anti-chef always adds an extra bay leaf to recipes that call for it and he says “and add another one. I’m not driving” and this has permanently altered my vocabulary.

Every time I add something extra to a recipe I say that now. Add another clove of garlic, I’m not driving. Let’s have two eggs, I’m not driving. Let’s double the chili flakes, I’m not driving.

7 months ago
Embracing The Calmness Of The Lake🍃
Embracing The Calmness Of The Lake🍃
Embracing The Calmness Of The Lake🍃
Embracing The Calmness Of The Lake🍃

embracing the calmness of the lake🍃


Tags
1 month ago

I love talking to kids about disability bc

1. they often just Get It, and

2. they have 0 concept of disability as a tragedy or something pitiable.

I've watched kids get into an argument with a teacher bc they thought wheelchairs were cool. I told a kid that I can't stand for too long sometimes and they replied, "That's okay, I can't do cartwheels sometimes, but I just do other stuff then. You can sit down with me if you want". Today a girl asked me what the headphones on a classmate's desk were for and I told her that headphones are important for some kids because noises bother them, and she said she wished she had headphones at home, because her baby brothers make a lot of noise and it makes it hard to think. The idea that different people could use tools at different times is intuitive and simple and when accessibility aids are explained neutrally, kids don't see them as bad or unfortunate, they're just things that are useful.

Even mental disability!! In Kindergarten the other day one of the kids asked me why his table partner got stickers when nobody else did. I started off by saying, "Well, when you do your work well, it feels good, right? That's your brain giving you a reward," and the kid just right away went, "Oh, and the stickers are like his reward?" YES! You are 5 and have a better grasp on ADHD than most adults! Kids blow me away every day.

3 weeks ago

y'all not to doxx myself too hard but irl i have spent some time in my life in mental health recovery, and i am here to tell anyone who needs to hear it that people with multiples & schizophrenia & psychosis & BPD are fun and interesting and lovable people and my friends

1 month ago

the thing is. knowing someone experiences hallucinations or trouble reading facial expressions or communication difficulties or any other symptom CAN help you to understand their behaviour and respond to it appropriately. but knowing someones diagnosis is never as helpful as it is to listen to them when they talk about how they can best be accommodated. and if “can you please speak slower” (for example) sounds like a ridiculous request from someone without a diagnosis and a reasonable one from someone with a diagnosis. well you’re the dick in that situation

4 months ago
To This Day Possibly One Of My Best Ideas. Someone Get Me A Pitch Meeting With The Hallmark Channel
To This Day Possibly One Of My Best Ideas. Someone Get Me A Pitch Meeting With The Hallmark Channel

to this day possibly one of my best ideas. someone get me a pitch meeting with the hallmark channel


Tags
  • ech0light
    ech0light reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • ech0light
    ech0light liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • salmon404
    salmon404 reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • salmon404
    salmon404 liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • dreamswillbeyourwintermeat
    dreamswillbeyourwintermeat liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • artionn
    artionn reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • apocalypticautumn
    apocalypticautumn liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • beau-rebloga-coisas
    beau-rebloga-coisas liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • tempesteddies
    tempesteddies reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • sagaduwyrm
    sagaduwyrm reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • spacetrashfallingdown
    spacetrashfallingdown liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • barin-mclegg
    barin-mclegg reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • barin-mclegg
    barin-mclegg liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • unwordy
    unwordy liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • orig-suckamunch
    orig-suckamunch reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • minnichan
    minnichan reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • pycnanthemum
    pycnanthemum reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • famishedeye
    famishedeye reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • silveranchor
    silveranchor reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • silveranchor
    silveranchor liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • mypastelelephant
    mypastelelephant liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • inaddendum
    inaddendum reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • inaddendum
    inaddendum liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • smolfangirl
    smolfangirl reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • sunnyuto
    sunnyuto reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • skoricovysnek
    skoricovysnek reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • thekittyisahoneybadger
    thekittyisahoneybadger reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • lethajx
    lethajx reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • miss-ingno
    miss-ingno reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • kevytmaitohorsma
    kevytmaitohorsma reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • llewellynz
    llewellynz reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • llewellynz
    llewellynz liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • books-space-things
    books-space-things liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • arlinya
    arlinya reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • weareallfromearth
    weareallfromearth reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • erratic-exomind
    erratic-exomind liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • sky-traveler
    sky-traveler liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • kitdat
    kitdat reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • sparrow-in-the-sea
    sparrow-in-the-sea reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • sagenemesis
    sagenemesis reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • sagenemesis
    sagenemesis liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • littlescratches
    littlescratches reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • thatvampireenthusiast
    thatvampireenthusiast reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • fishonthetree
    fishonthetree reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • auroramagpie
    auroramagpie reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • aroacevampire
    aroacevampire reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • aroacevampire
    aroacevampire liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • abowlofcurry
    abowlofcurry reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • thuringwethilsfangz
    thuringwethilsfangz liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • thriceandonce
    thriceandonce reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
kaleidoscopechaos827 - The Kaleidoscope System
The Kaleidoscope System

206 posts

Explore Tumblr Blog
Search Through Tumblr Tags