Learn English – T-V distinction

formalitypersonal-pronounspronouns

In many languages, there is such thing as T-V distinction. Basically, it's when you use different pronouns in "formal" (or "polite") speech, and in informal speech.

Now, I do realize there is no such thing in English directly. However, there are phrases that
indicate the change between the formal and informal pronoun. For example, in Russian, a phrase "перейти на 'ты'" means literally "to start using 'ты'", where 'ты' is the informal pronoun. Variations of this also exist in other languages.

So my question is, what is the best way to translate such a phrase into English? In Poul Andersen's book "Tau Zero", I've found a phrase

“That’s the main reason I
called you. Remember, during training I urged you to come here for
part of your furlough.” By now they were using the intimate
pronoun.

While this seems a little awkward, it does the job well. Are there any other ways of saying it?

Best Answer

We might say "By now they were speaking more familiarly" or, in slightly different contexts, "By now they were on a first name basis"

I tried to find a similar phrase in German so I could translate it and all I came up with is "Du Sagen" "To say 'informal you'".

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