Hi, I just had an enjoyable lunch-time diversion of watching Sam Tan from yesterday…
http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_level2.shtml?series_id=337886007
But I was surprised to notice that the children are using chi when talking to their mum and their uncle. (Particularly noticeable at say 6:15). Is it meant to be vaguely old-fashioned or quaint or something, or is it sometimes normal usage? I’d be very interested if anyone could comment.
I’m told that chi is fairly normal for talking to one’s elders - it’s to show respect.
Thanks. I was surprised to hear it in that context though. I guess my question is really whether you would ever hear real children speaking to their parents with “chi” these days, or whether that was a purely stylistic choice?
I’m still trying to get my head round exactly how it is in Wales. I’d use “chi” to my kids’ teachers unless they say otherwise, but I did hear a first language speaker saying “ti” to a teacher the other day who I know she didn’t know very well. (Maybe just because she was a first language speaker of about the same age?)
In Germany, it took 5 years for me to be allowed to say “Du” to my husband’s parents (they are a bit old and old-fashioned to be honest), but children always use Du for family members. (Well, for the last 100 years or so at least).
Pretty much personal taste in using it with parents - you’ll hear people going both ways…
Ooh, that’s interesting! Thanks!
I didn’t really think they’d be making it up(!) but it seemed counter intuitive to how I’d understood it so far.
Like many other aspects of the language, there aren’t really rules about ti/chi so much as guidelines, which are bendy…