Es bien sabido que en inglés la forma del ‘usted’ no existe. Pero esta característica no impide que en este idioma se pueda ser también muy formal.
For mother-tongue English speakers foreign languages can be difficult. If they try to speak Italian, Spanish, French or German, conversation can be embarrassing. When they meet a person for the first time, do they speak to them with the formal ‘you’ or the informal ‘you?’ In English this problem doesn’t exist: everybody is ‘you,’ from a small child to the King of England.
OLD ENGLISH
The informal ‘you’ existed in the past: ‘thou,’ ‘thee,’ and the possessive ‘thy’ or ‘thine,’ but now you only find these words in literature (Shakespeare and the King James Bible, for example), or in some local dialects and in old expressions. For example, some people like to say “between thee and me” because it’s more poetic than “between you and me.”
MR. SMITH
This does not mean that you can totally relax in English. The way you talk to people, or ‘forms of address,’ can be problematic, although today people are not too formal. When you meet John Smith, do you call him “Mr. Smith” or “John?” If you immediately say “John,” you may seem too friendly, but if you say “Mr. Smith,” you appear too formal.
In fact ‘Mr.’ is old-fashioned and – in some situations – can appear sarcastic. Once in an interview with the Monty Python star Michael Palin, an aggressive young journalist continually addressed him as “Mr. Palin” and, after a while, an angry Palin said, “Don’t you ‘Mr. Palin’ me!” Similarly, the excessively formal ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ can appear sarcastic.
As for our friend John Smith, if he is polite, he will introduce himself as John Smith. And if you introduce yourself in the same way, then “first names” should be OK.
Cómo pedir comida en inglés en un restaurante
GOODBYE
In English, saying “hello” is generally considered neutral, that is, the greeting is both formally and informally used. “Good morning,” “good afternoon” and “good evening” might seem a little formal, but all are acceptable, and, in fact, have a certain style to them.
“Hi” is probably informal, so don’t use it all the time. And always remember that “hello” and “hi” are at the start of the conversation. When you finish you say “goodbye” or the informal “bye.” The term is actually an abbreviation of “God be with you (till we meet again).” Not many people know that!
GLOSSARY
although: aunque
as for: en cuanto a
first names: nombres de pila
God be with you (till we meet again): que Dios te acompañe (hasta que nos volvamos a ver)