Chekhov's, The Bear

[Rebecca Jane Stanton]

This is true for Russian, but not (in my experience) for French.  No 
French person of my acquaintance would ever *address* a waiter as 
"garçon" (they would address any adult person, regardless of position, 
as "Monsieur"/"Madame"), though they would use the word to refer to him 
in the third person -- just as a Russian might speak *of* the waiter as 
"ofitsiant" but *to* him as "molodoi chelovek."  If anything, I think 
the distinction is less marked in English (I can imagine a polite person 
saying "Excuse me, waiter?" much more easily than the equivalent phrases 
in Russian or French).

Rebecca Stanton


Josh Wilson wrote:

>Or perhaps the guide books are playing to English sensitivities?  
>
>I've known several American students in Russia who drag their heels and
>resist the terms "devushka" and even "molodoi chelovek" because they are
>certain it sounds rude.  
>
>Only after a few lectures and seeing that there really is no other variant
>that modern Russian uses to refer to waiters and waitresses will they
>finally break down and use them.  
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
>[mailto:SEELANGS at listserv.cuny.edu] On Behalf Of Devin Browne
>Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 1:49 PM
>To: SEELANGS at listserv.cuny.edu
>Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Chekhov's, The Bear
>
>Well, depends on whom you ask.  Guide books these days, for example,
>suggest "monsieur" rather than "garcon," the former being considered
>more polite, the latter considered less so or perhaps quaint and
>old-fashioned in some parts.
>
>Devin
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------