Alex Ruhlman- Du und Sie

In the German language, there are two different ways to say the word "you".  There is the informal version, or "du", and there is the formal version, or "sie".  The difference is that the "du" version is reserved to be used for people who you know to whom you have informal or comfortable relationships.  Additionally, the formal "sie" version is used on people to whom you have professional and formal relationships.  For example, it wouldn't necessarily be appropriate or polite to use the "du" version when you are talking to someone of authority, such as a boss, a police officer, or even a stranger if they happen to be older than you, especially if it hasn't already been offered.  In the same regard, it would seem odd to say hello to friends or family by using the "sie" version.  In English, we have only one version of the word "you", for a few reasons.  First, most of the time when you are speaking to someone their title or status compared to yours will act as an unwritten guide as to how you address them.  Usually, simply using Mr./Ms, or Mrs. or other titles will be respectful enough, at least until that person allows you to call them by their first name.  Secondly, in the English language there isn't as much emphasis placed on how you address someone as there is in the German language, where it might be extremely impolite to use the wrong version of "you".  So, in German it is very important that you use the correctly use "du" and "sie" whereas in English it isn't as strongly emphasized because English speakers use the form of "you" mostly based on the unwritten context of whatever conversation or relationship where the word "you" is being used.

Works Cited

1. http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t2005.html
2. http://www.komma-net.de/sekretariat/artikel/is-there-a-difference-between-du-and-sie-in-english/