The thing I like the most in English language is the fact that I don’t have to be always concerned whether to treat the person in a formal way or in a more casual way.
I have the tendency to speak more casually right away when talking to someone my age, or if I empathize with the person. Some times it’s tricky when talking Portuguese or French…
But the worst is when you begin a conversation in English, and suddenly you realise that the person you are talking to also speaks French or Portuguese and we decide to switch all the sudden. This happens to me frequently when I’m talking for the first time with someone, so it would be nice to be formal, just in case…but most of the time I’m just casual, I keep the same register that in English!
Not once was I told to be formal, but that’s not something you say… and people might think you’re disrespecting them… But I’m not! It’s just, well… I think we are all humans, equal (not to the eyes of god, because I’m not religious) and for me there are only a few people in the world that deserves that kind of distance. That’s right, this is not about respect, this is about keeping a distance! That’s why it’s so difficult for me when I’m talking to someone I feel a bond with!
I remember the first time I was on a bus stop and a kid asked me the time treating me in the formal way (in Portuguese), and I was “oh my god, I feel old now!”
So if I had the power I would banish the formal way in every language! If English can do it and they are so formal why can’t the rest of the world do it also? We already know it’s not a lack of respect…
I totaly agrea
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