I was at EAA Airventure when the French Connection husband-wife aerobatic team was performing (I know, it gets yet more cringe-worthy if such is at all possible).
The announcer explained that they were broadcasting the cockpit conversations for those of us watching and listening.
As the two planes lned up for takeoff, the conversation went something like a gruff, man’s voice proposing,
“Je voudrais voler avec vous.” I struggled through French in high school to understand this as “I would like to fly with you (formal).”
A sweet woman’s voice responded “Je voudrais voler avec toi.” No counterpart in modern English, but it translates, “I would like to fly with thee.”
The initial use of you, formal is not being emotionally distant, rather I see it as a “courtly love” kind of thing of holding a woman in high esteem. The response with thee, familiar is not treating the man as a child, rather, it is a woman’s expression of affection and appreciation.
French has the you/thee distinction.
I was at EAA Airventure when the French Connection husband-wife aerobatic team was performing (I know, it gets yet more cringe-worthy if such is at all possible).
The announcer explained that they were broadcasting the cockpit conversations for those of us watching and listening.
As the two planes lned up for takeoff, the conversation went something like a gruff, man’s voice proposing,
“Je voudrais voler avec vous.” I struggled through French in high school to understand this as “I would like to fly with you (formal).”
A sweet woman’s voice responded “Je voudrais voler avec toi.” No counterpart in modern English, but it translates, “I would like to fly with thee.”
The initial use of you, formal is not being emotionally distant, rather I see it as a “courtly love” kind of thing of holding a woman in high esteem. The response with thee, familiar is not treating the man as a child, rather, it is a woman’s expression of affection and appreciation.