To those who have formal and informal forms of addressing people in their language

[Philippe Schlichting]

That means german, french, chinese, japanese and others.

How do you deal with a formal "Thank you, where are you from" reply to an informal "Hi, I like X and Y about you"?

In other words she keeps a verbal distance she always keeps when addressing 'older' people.

 

[Huffman]

You tell her where you're from, duh.

 

[Philippe Schlichting]

You tell her where you're from, duh.

Troll

 

[timmylivingalie]

Is she a German? How much age difference? This could be an IOI depending on the circumstances or maybe she is just polite?

 

[Philippe Schlichting]

Is she a German? How much age difference? This could be an IOI depending on the circumstances or maybe she is just polite?

I am going to believe it was an IOI, I like that mindset.

 

[Down Low]

In Spanish, people look at you like you're weird if you try to drag every conversation to the informal. The formal "you" does not imply a greater distance than the informal "you."

For instance, let's say you have lots of conversations, including on personal subjects, with a teacher, but no conversations at all with fellow students. The formally-addressed teacher is much closer than the informally-addressed students.

 

[Scaramouche]

Dear Phillip,
"Thee never thees them as thous thee"in parts of Yorkshire the old people still resent the familiar Thee...and so with Germans today,you never use the familiar until invited,the French are less fussy,but in general the Australian and US matey habit of using the familiar to everyone is frowned upon...As we don't know how old you are,nor the Girl,nor the Culture it is hard for us to advise you!