[Lexicog] speaking of ironic pronouns...

[Fritz Goerling]

The new subject line is funny .

Maybe we can start a new thread on the definition of "irony." :-)

This foreigner talk is addressed to men and women, and women

do get Ph.D.'s in Germany. 

Maybe still another thread can be started on the use of inclusive language
;-)

 

Fritz

 

> This can happen in German by talking to foreigners by using a grammar 
> simplified to the level of using only infinitives as a verbal form "du 
> gehen Kaufhaus" (= you go store), and the informal "du" - while the 
> formal respectful "Sie" would be expected. What if it turns out that 
> the addressee has received his Ph.D. in Germany and speaks better 
> German than the German?! 

Fascinating, the inferences that can be drawn from pronouns. Do I
conclude from your post that this foreigner talk is just confined to
men, or women don't get PhDs in Germany, or something else?

Claire

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lexicography/attachments/20070611/4590d5f7/attachment.htm>