On Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:00:09 +0200, Isabelle Cecchini
<isabelle.cecchini@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>curiosity a écrit :
>[...]
>>> Elle est en pleine forme, Sylvie.
>>
>> Toby is talking directly to Sylvie, so what/who is the 'elle' here?
>
>"Elle" is Sylvie. Using the 3rd person singular instead of the
>2nd person is something you might do when you want to distance yourself
>from the person you're talking to.
>
>That distantiating effect might be wanted for different reasons. A
>shopkeeper, or the fishmonger at the local market, might well ask you:
>"Et qu'est-ce qu'elle veut, la petite dame ?" The distance here is the
>distance of half-joking politeness required at the start of a
>conversation between seller and customer at a local, familiar level.
>
>In Toby's speech, the intended effect is insulting: he's speaking about
>Sylvie, but also to Sylvie, as if she weren't present. He is half
>talking to her, half commenting about her, and in her presence, which is
>really very rude.
>
>--
>Isabelle Cecchini
Thanks Isabelle - I couldn't have hoped for a fuller explanation!
I don't know why this struck me as so odd because we do much the same
in english, and with the same flexibility of use - possibly
condescending, possibly jokey.
Also, we might use the first person plural (distinct from the 'royal
we') to the same effect:-
"We're feeling a little low today are we, Suzie?"
- is that used in french also?
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