the questions of our times: formality and vampires

[rm]

This, thanks to a discussion started by weirdquark. Please do visit the comments where you will learn many things including the many ways formality is structured in different languages (something my questions did not fully take into account, and I apologize for that), werewolf pack dynamics considerations, and whether there are vampires in France.

[Poll #1601631]

Comments

[spiderine.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... you may be right. It does depend on context. You can definitely imply your superiority by using the formal. For example, a woman of classical Rome, when speaking to some Celtic chieftain (if a woman were able to do so), would definitely use the formal, but the very purity of her language compared to his would imply her cultural superiority and his quaint barbarian status.

On the other hand, even a Roman child would use the informal to a slave, no matter how old.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

THIS!