Essay Sample on Social and Pragmatic Factors Influencing Thou and You

Introduction

Language and linguistics are always changing. The changes are evident by the diversity of words in that language that is different from others with the same origins. The second pronoun development in the English language has been a dynamic process that shows availability of variation within the literature system. Singular and plural forms used to denote social relationships in middle English period. However, due to the dynamism of the literature, the distinction leveled and wide use of the pronoun 'you' took the functions of thou and ye. Middle period English clearly distinguished between the singular the and plural ye. In that period, however, there was the existence of dual pronouns that represented 'you' in instances when there are two people contrary to when they are many. In the middle English period as Mustanoja and Tauno (1960, 120) explains, second personal pronouns were differentiated by number. That is thou or thee represented singular forms whereas ye or you were plurals. The nominative distinction in plural form was leveled in the sixteenth century.

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The use of thou appears to be diminishing continually since the end of the seventeenth century. 'You' seem to be becoming more regular in spoken language. However, there is the existence of 'thou' although its availability is in special registers. It however carries and bears different meanings.

Influence from other nations in Europe changed the use of the pronouns. For example, the impact of French language help designates the use of ye and you to not only plurality but also difference socially. Due to social resonance, second person pronoun gained more significance in comparison with the plural distinction. For example, one various factor influences the choice of the pronoun. The social rank of the characters, their intimacy, age and differences in gender dictate the choice. The pronouns used can only signify a working relationship and evolving intimacy between the characters. For example, one Shakespeare has made an application of archaic English that could sometimes be confusing. The phrases used in his works often are complicated, and irritating. The words thou and you are switched therefore doing the reading and understanding them quite tricky. There is a good rapport between the characters. It expresses love and intimacy. Words such as thou could as some instances signify the differences regarding rank. A lover could often refer to each other as ye and thou.

Brown and Gilman (1960) argue that the adoption of you in place of thou led to the emergence of power semantic whereby thou became a social maker and mark of contempt. The term is often given by the superior in society to those they deem to be inferior to them. The name they were often left to the people of the lower class in society, and you to the nobles. The use of pronouns thou, thee and you only worked as a means of distinguishing social groups in the community. On the other hand, it consolidated affiliations amongst people in society even family members. The use of you and thou hast not been straightforward, but instead, there has been a fluctuation between the two in singular forms. Hope (1994, 145) Shows that thou marks a range of emotions and expresses familiarity. For example, a master's thou indicates familiarity rather than condescension.

During the Middle English period, social status influenced societies behavior verbally. Their occupation, gender and wealth often defined some one's social roles in the community. However, a man could not belong to a homogenous class or a particular group. Titles that were heritably defined their status and gave them legal privilege over their counterparts. These noble people in society could often include; parish gentlemen, and social groups that contained peers. However, there existed another non-gentry social group that consisted of servants, the poor and laborers. Professionals such as lawyers and doctors were considered to be middle class and very important. During the progress of the Middle English period, the gap between social groups increased. Calvo (1992, 16) explains that social mobility upward and downward nature changed the people's perception.

In the sixteenth and seventeenth century society was ruled by set code that defined social behavior. A social group or peers' judged one's behavior and these codes formed the basis for determination of polite and impolite behavior. The rules could not be applied in court processes during trials. Therefore, the courts defined specific linguistic rules, conventions, and behaviors that guided functions in courtrooms. In courtrooms, people were assigned roles, for instance, judge, prosecutor, and defendant. These roles only institutionalized them and were often encountered with legal phrases and system that contrasts with the normally used. In example two, the prosecution was done by the judges according to the social status and traitors regarded enemies of states. The use of impolite languages as used in example two signifies the importance, perception, and seriousness of the cases. However, the attorney's utterances only show an exertion of power for intimidation. The phrases used by the attorney threatens the defendant's face in these trial Raleigh. The combination of words like traitor illuminates the attorney's anger towards the defendant even though there is the use of polite terms such as sir and you. If the concept of politeness was used in these trial, Coke who is considered to be socially equal to the defendant could have used a politic language.

Nevertheless, the formality of the courtroom widely contrasts with the hostility towards the defendant. The use of such language amongst nobility could be considered to be insulting and rude even though polite terms are used. When Brown and Gilman's (1960) power and solidarity model are applied, power imbalance favors the Attorney. Other forms of politeness were used to address judges and members of the courts.

In example three the phrases are used to express real love and affection, closeness to family. Variable choices act as the controlling force of the social status of people. Pragmatic factors often dictate the use of words thou and you. The letter sent privately to family and loved ones approximate the communicative situation as compared to other texts. The purpose of the words thou and you used within a book denotes the change of topic of conversation. For instance, the letter to William written by her mother Katherine, she carefully uses thou and you. Although it could be seen to be a random use of the words, it is not, Katherine uses thou to refer to her close relationship with William. She seldom uses 'you' to attract attention to the advice she is offering him. Katherine uses 'thou' to draw her son's emotional attention and intimate rapport and only switches to 'you' for generality (Burnley and David 1983, 20).

The interaction involving social factors illustrates the second pronouns history of English. The second pronouns exist in almost all languages is an existing reference to the addressee, the third person, and speaker. The universal feature and systems tend to show that people that are stale. Shows the strength of prenominal reference that is stable. However, due and changes in the morphological leveling.

In comparison between paradigms of Old, middle and modern English. Even during the thirteenth-century people often used in the identification of singularity and not addresses and groups. These dynamic developments and therefore, influencing court practices. In example five Thomas writes a personal letter to Katherine reaffirming his love for her. Thou signifies intimacy and familiarity. At other instances, 'thou' could be used as a sign of disrespect in a community. Thomas uses plural thee to show love, fondness, and friendship to Katherine. Ye, however, could be used in more formal functions and even letters.

Thou, thee and thine are singular pronouns in the next person. Thou, in that case, acts as an objective. However, the constant thine are pronounced before continuous sounds. However, the use of the words only reflects. Different word in the Middle English period. These instances indicate on periods that were yet to be found (Machan 2012, 165). For example, the French used 'tu' and 'vous.' Several. In a religious context, the sociolinguistic changes and developments have not changed. They simply signified the singular and plural forms.

The motivation that appears to lead to the adoption of numerical one and therefore the patterns pronouns. There is a semantic shift operative of one and the third person seldom neuter pronoun with different references. The pronouns are at sometimes in isolation and therefore crucial in joining with a verb (Brown and Gilman 1989, 170). The development of the pronoun has created a debate over the years. According to Wales (1983, 110), on the other hand, has tried to make it sure that there is still a distinction even thou there are shifts in English changes. Hope (1994, 147) analyzes the numerous approaches that could treat dramatic dialogues. Accounts of real conversations are investigated to reduce on the distortions that could have arisen of modern English.

Bibliography

Brown, R. and Gilman, A., 1960. The pronouns of power and solidarity.

Brown, R. and Gilman, A., 1989. Politeness theory and Shakespeare's four major tragedies. Language in society, 18(2), pp.159-212.

Burnley, David. A Guide to Chaucer's Language. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1983. 17-22.

Calvo, C., 1992. Pronouns of address and social negotiation in As You Like It. Language and Literature, 1(1), pp.5-27.

Hope, J., 1994. The use of thou and you in Early Modern spoken English: Evidence from depositions in the Durham ecclesiastical court records. The Studies in Early Modern English, pp.141-151.

Machan, T.W., 2012. Chaucer and the History of English. Speculum, 87(1), pp.147-175.

Mustanoja, Tauno F. A Middle English Syntax. Helsinki: Societe Neophilologique, 1960. 124-128

Wales, K.M., 1983. Thou and you in early modern English: Brown and Gilman reappraised. Studia Linguistica, 37(2), pp.107-125.