Vosotros, ustedes, and the myth of the symmetrical Castilian pronoun system

Abstract

In studies of T/V address systems, research typically ignores plural forms in favor of their singular counterparts. We show that there is widespread asymmetry between singular and plural T/V forms in Castilian Spanish, and that the historically T plural vosotros often serves as the plural of both tú (T) and usted (V). Our data consist of naturally-occurring examples, interviews with a dozen Spaniards across three generations, and the results of an online survey that polled speakers about their pronominal choices when offered three scenarios involving multiple interlocutors, some addressed as tú and others as usted in the singular. In each scenario, respondent use of vosotros in the plural was significantly higher than their corresponding use of tú in the singular.

Diachronic research on address in Portuguese and Spanish

“…This could have played a role in the expansion of the plural ustedes in Andalusia and America. In line with this, Morgan & Schwenter (2016) claim that European vosotros tends to be used as a generalized plural for both tú and usted. This means that it also compensates for possible downgrading effects of familiar tú.…”

Vuestra atención, por favor ‘your attention, please’. Some remarks on the usage and history of plural vuestro/a in Cusco Spanish (Peru)

“…Finally, some exceptional examples presented by Morgan & Schwenter (2016) are also of special interest, for example in a Chilean greeting card for a wedding, which on the outside says Mil Felicidades en Vuestro [emphasis added] Matrimonio 'Congratulations on your Marriage' but inside switches to su: Que la vida que hoy inician traiga a su [emphasis added] hogar la alegría de un sueño compartido 'I hope the life you start today will bring your home the happiness of a shared dream'. The use of vuestro/a in Cusco, however, is not only restricted to a few specific discourse traditions but seems instead to be accessible to any educated speaker under formal circumstances.…”

The loss of vosotros in American Spanish

“…In addition to my own discordant voice, others have recently disagreed with this way of analyzing forms of address and with the need for symmetrical singular and plural forms. Morgan & Schwenter (2016) argue that symmetry in Castilian European Spanish is currently a myth, because the vosotros/vosotras form in European Spanish is actually the plural for both the singular tú and the singular usted, as they note in the following excerpt:…”

“…That is, until recently. The study by Morgan & Schwenter (2016) cited above sug-gests there is a change in progress, with speakers tending to disregard this factor when choosing the plural pronoun.…”