| Front | How were 'thou' and 'you' used in EME? |
|---|---|
| Back | 'Thou' was typically used by the lower classes, and 'you' by the upper classes among their respective peers. However, in non-reciprocal situations, 'you' was directed up the social scale and 'thou' down the scale. 'Thou' could also be used emotively, with a change from 'you' to 'thou' occurring in heated exchanges. 'Thou' was associated with the Quakers, a heavily persecuted group. This fact, and the general low status of 'thou', were probably responsible for its eventual demise. |
Tags: early, english, modern
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