Madame or Mademoiselle?
Dec 21, 2015, 3:19 pm
#32
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As far as I know, yes, such a policy is always explicit.
Dec 22, 2015, 12:21 am
#33
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Well...while I agree with what the French posters have said, in the real world it is not always as straightforward as it seems and not all cases are fitting well with those "rules", making this a complex thing 
But I believe an explicit policy like this is not that frequent, outside start-up companies. Personnally, I find such explicit policies "stupid". Let the people do as they wish. Some people are uncomfortable with tutoyer in the work environment, especially with their boss.
But I believe an explicit policy like this is not that frequent, outside start-up companies. Personnally, I find such explicit policies "stupid". Let the people do as they wish. Some people are uncomfortable with tutoyer in the work environment, especially with their boss.
Dec 22, 2015, 12:29 am
#34
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I've known some international work environments where most people said vous in French (or Sie in German) but then used first names, especially when speaking English or when foreigners (especially Americans) were present. It's an odd combination but seems to work as a compromise.
Dec 22, 2015, 2:08 am
#35
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Well...while I agree with what the French posters have said, in the real world it is not always as straightforward as it seems and not all cases are fitting well with those "rules", making this a complex thing
But I believe an explicit policy like this is not that frequent, outside start-up companies. Personnally, I find such explicit policies "stupid". Let the people do as they wish. Some people are uncomfortable with tutoyer in the work environment, especially with their boss.
But I believe an explicit policy like this is not that frequent, outside start-up companies. Personnally, I find such explicit policies "stupid". Let the people do as they wish. Some people are uncomfortable with tutoyer in the work environment, especially with their boss.
Dec 22, 2015, 8:19 am
#36
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I've known some international work environments where most people said vous in French (or Sie in German) but then used first names, especially when speaking English or when foreigners (especially Americans) were present. It's an odd combination but seems to work as a compromise.
I think "Sie" and last name would be more appropriate, but I try to avoid using either as much as possible.
Dec 22, 2015, 9:18 am
#38
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It was the same for me once I was in my mid- to late 20s. Although I was single, I preferred Sra. in Spanish, and Mme. in French. Fortunately, in Spanish, I had the option of using my title back home (Lcda., the equivalent of Maitre -- sorry, can't figure out the accent circ. here), making it much easier.
Dec 22, 2015, 9:55 am
#39
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When talking about your co-workers, "ma collčgue" / "mon collčgue" is totally fine, in all contexts.
Dec 22, 2015, 3:57 pm
#40
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I've known some international work environments where most people said vous in French (or Sie in German) but then used first names, especially when speaking English or when foreigners (especially Americans) were present. It's an odd combination but seems to work as a compromise.
Dec 22, 2015, 8:06 pm
#41
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Perhaps it has taken a couple of liberal generations for us to get where we are now with tu versus vous.
Dec 22, 2015, 8:16 pm
#42
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Very true. And if you read older literature, using tu was a much more rare thing in previous generations. Someone had to be very special to use tu. And the lower class could never use tu with the upper class. At least from the books I've read.
Perhaps it has taken a couple of liberal generations for us to get where we are now with tu versus vous.
Perhaps it has taken a couple of liberal generations for us to get where we are now with tu versus vous.
Dec 22, 2015, 8:25 pm
#43
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Yet there are other European countries, IIRC Denmark and Holland for example, where the common usage switched to saying the equivalent of tu to almost everyone.
Another example is in church, where the informal seems to be used. {But how would one address a high church official, perhaps like a Roman Catholic Bishop or higher?}
Another example is in church, where the informal seems to be used. {But how would one address a high church official, perhaps like a Roman Catholic Bishop or higher?}
Dec 22, 2015, 10:15 pm
#44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stimpy
Very true. And if you read older literature, using tu was a much more rare thing in previous generations. Someone had to be very special to use tu. And the lower class could never use tu with the upper class. At least from the books I've read.
Perhaps it has taken a couple of liberal generations for us to get where we are now with tu versus vous.
Interesting. OT, but in Spanish, it was similar. My grandmother referred to her own father as "Papa," and "usted" (vous). She said you would never "tutear" your father/mother, as it was much too informal, back in the day. It was not until my mother's generation that people began to use "tu" when speaking to their parents.
Originally Posted by stimpy
Very true. And if you read older literature, using tu was a much more rare thing in previous generations. Someone had to be very special to use tu. And the lower class could never use tu with the upper class. At least from the books I've read.
Perhaps it has taken a couple of liberal generations for us to get where we are now with tu versus vous.
Interesting. OT, but in Spanish, it was similar. My grandmother referred to her own father as "Papa," and "usted" (vous). She said you would never "tutear" your father/mother, as it was much too informal, back in the day. It was not until my mother's generation that people began to use "tu" when speaking to their parents.
May 6, 2017, 4:11 pm
#45
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By way of a thank you and follow up, I did speak in behalf of my friend as Madame to all of our hotel/dining/transport contacts and it was appropriate. My friend quickly understood that the salutation was for respect/age and not her marital status. Showing her Paris was a wonderful experience; we went back to France this past January to Nice and a bit of PACA. As we speak, I'm planning my next visit, comme toujours!
Merci
T2
Merci
T2