In my head, it kind of compares to the use of tu vs. vous in French
*nodnodnod* That's a good example, too, I think.
while we have some distinction (in the form of different accents or like the example you gave with the use of contractions), it's just not the same.
Amen. And then you have the exceptions wherein it's actually more respectful to a person to refer to them by their first names and not "Mr./Ms./Mrs." or whatever... our lists of exceptions are sometimes as long as the examples that follow the rules. XD
Yeah, and honestly, I should qualify all my statements about English with "American English" because who knows if it's different in the UK and Australia or New Zealand? Dude, if someone ever says you can learn a language without learning the culture, they're lyyyyyyyyyying. I taught English in Japan for 18 months and trying to explain why we do certain things and when to use the exceptions made me feel so bad for my students. XD
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*nodnodnod* That's a good example, too, I think.
while we have some distinction (in the form of different accents or like the example you gave with the use of contractions), it's just not the same.
Amen. And then you have the exceptions wherein it's actually more respectful to a person to refer to them by their first names and not "Mr./Ms./Mrs." or whatever... our lists of exceptions are sometimes as long as the examples that follow the rules. XD
Yeah, and honestly, I should qualify all my statements about English with "American English" because who knows if it's different in the UK and Australia or New Zealand? Dude, if someone ever says you can learn a language without learning the culture, they're lyyyyyyyyyying. I taught English in Japan for 18 months and trying to explain why we do certain things and when to use the exceptions made me feel so bad for my students. XD