Is English More Informal?

[Learning_Genetics]

Is English more informal than your native language? Does it have less or more slang and idioms?

[SupaThug]

Yes,it is way more simple

[Iloko]

To get the point across in everyday conversation, it can pretty much usually convey the same message, just has a different twang and feeling to it.

As far as slang and idioms, I think English has more, but not too sure on it.

[Musso]

English doesn't have formal 'you' , hence it is a language of peasants.

[McCauley]

English doesn't have formal 'you' , hence it is a language of peasants.

Yes it does- "thou".

[Musso]

Yes it does- "thou".

and how many people actually use that in everyday speech? It's not part of modern english.

[HillY35]

It is important, nonetheless, for it is a peculiar germanic "left-over"

[kkk77]

In Portugal we don't directly address people we don't know using "you".
We use the third person like we were talking about someone is not there.

In formal situations, we even say "sir".

So, instead of estás pronto (are you ready), we'd ask o senhor está pronto (is sir ready).


In those situations we don't ask things directly like do you...
For example, we would't say do you let me come in, but rather does sir mind if I come in, or simply can I come in. This is similar to English I think.

[Musso]

In Portugal we don't directly address people we don't know using "you".
We use the third person like we were talking about someone is not there.

In formal situations, we even say "sir".

So, instead of estás pronto (are you ready), we'd ask o senhor está pronto (is sir ready).


In those situations we don't ask things directly like do you...
For example, we would't say do you let me come in, but rather does sir mind if I come in, or simply can I come in. This is similar to English I think.

Yes it is similar to Spanish:

Quieres una cerveza? - Want a beer? (informal)
Quiere una cerveza? - Want a beer? (formal)

Como te llamas? - What is your name? (informal)
Como se llama? - What is your name? (formal)

Ten Cuidado! - Be Careful! (informal)
Tenga Cuidado! - Be Careful! (formal)

Tú estas acá - you are here (informal)
Usted esta acá - you are here (formal)

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In Spanish (of Latin America) you have:

Tú - singular and informal
Usted - singular and formal
Ustedes - pluaral and formal/informal

In Armenian you have:
Du - singular and informal
Duk - singular/plural and formal/informal

So you use 'duk' for formal situations for one person, but also when talking to a group (doesn't matter formal or informal situation).

[Graham]

The posh folk say one for you.