Micro Class Pronouns in Spanish

Vosotros vs. Ustedes:

As you may already know, "Vosotros" is the PLURAL FAMILIAR word for "YOU", and "Ustedes" is the PLURAL POLITE
form of the word for "YOU".

In the book and in our classes, we do not teach the use of the form Vosotros. Why not?

The reasons are twofold and quite simple.

First, in all of Latin America, the Ustedes form is used almost exclusively for "YOU" PLURAL and for both Familiar and
Polite. The Vosotros form is rarely used.

Secondly, in most of Spain, there is an increasing tendency to use the Polite form, Ustedes, for "YOU" plural,
especially in the southern provinces of Andalucia.

Even where the Vosotros form is most predominately in use (especially northern and north central Spain, Spanish
speakers are very accustomed to hearing both Latin Americans and Spanish-speaking foreigners who have been
exposed to Latin American Spanish using the Ustedes form for all Plural usages of "YOU", as well as having extensive
exposure to movies and television programming from Latin America.

Hence, since everyone understands Ustedes can be used to mean "YOU" plural (polite and familiar), it is our opinion
that the Vosotros plural form is not an absolute necessity. Ignoring it reduces the number of verb endings one must
learn by one, or 16 2/3 %.

I have heard it said that one cannot speak to a Spaniard and not use the Vosotros form, but in nearly 15 years of living
in Spain, I have not found that statement to be true. I, personally, never use the Vosotros form, having learned my
Spanish initially in Latin America, and NO Spaniard has ever either failed to understand my meaning or to question
me on my failure to use the Vosotros form.

Tú vs. Usted in Spain and Latin America:

Almost the reverse of the situation with respect to Vosotros and Ustedes exists with respect to the issue of Tú vs.
Usted.

In Spain, the Usted form is rapidly becoming obsolete in many areas, especially in Andalucia, and the use of the tuteo
(the tú form of "YOU") is becoming much more common. Occasionally, you will find someone offended if you use the
tuteo without permission, but, especially in the south, this is becoming more and more rare. However, it does happen.

It is my opinion that, within a few generations, the Usted form will have disappeared in Spain to be replaced by the
tuteo in much the same way that vosotros has disappeared from use and been replaced by ustedes in Latin America.

Still, the best guide in the Spain of today is to use the Usted form with the nice man from Guardia Civil Trafico, in the
town hall, with anyone in authority or anyone who IS an authority, with the elderly, and with anyone you are either
meeting for the first time or with whom you are expecting to enter into a business relationship.

With just about anyone else, from neighbors to store clerks, from waiters to bank tellers, you´re perfectly O.K. using
the tuteo.

In Latin America, this is not the case. You must always use the formal, Usted, in the singular, UNLESS given
permission to use the more familiar, Tú. The exception to this rule would be with respect to children and young
people up to voting age or who are still engaged in formal education, and with pets. If you just indiscriminately use the
tuteo in Latin America (something you can get away with in Spain), you will cause offense.

How do I know when to shift from
the formal USTED to the familiar TÚ?

This question arises in Spain as often as in Latin America. The answer is not always clear, but there are a couple of
ways to make a determination as to whether or not you´re safe using the tuteo.

First, Spanish speakers often times will automatically begin speaking with you using the Tú instead of the Usted form.
In this case, you will know that it is perfectly acceptable for you to do the same.

Other times, because of their natural reluctance to cause offence, especially if they consider you to be of a much
higher social or educational class than themselves, they will never go to the tuteo without your permission.

In order to find out whether or not shifting to the Tú form or tuteo is acceptable, and if you feel comfortable with the
other person speaking to you in tuteo, then you may make the suggestion that, for future conversations between you,
you use the familiar, Tú.

You can do this simply by saying "habla de tú". If your respondent continues to use the Usted form, then you will know
that YOU should not shift to the Tú form and that you must continue to use the more polite Usted.

On the other hand, if the person begins to use Tú with you, then you´ll know that they feel comfortable with you and
with your use of the tuteo.

One CAVEAT:

You will occasionally see a situation where someone who previously has been using the tuteo shifts to the more
formal Usted. What has happened?

There are a couple of possibilities. First, it could be a shift to a teasing or ironic meaning, implying that one is being
wound up for his/her feelings of self-importance. Secondly, it could be that one has caused offence, and this sudden
shift to the polite Usted is a subtle reminder that one may have just overstepped his/her limits with the other person.

Your guide should be that, if you and a Spanish speaker have been communicating using the tuteo and your Spanish
speaker suddenly shifts to using Usted, you should go about determining how you might have offended him/her.
Something in your behaviour, verbal or physical, may have altered your relationship.


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