Datapoint Nepali / Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns

Language:Nepali
Feature:Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns by Johannes Helmbrecht
Value:Multiple politeness distinctions

Notes

hajūr

2nd sg. hhon.

- indicates higher honorificity, more politeness than

the "high grade honorific"; used by Vaisyas and Sudras

to address Brahmans (all ages)

sarkār

2nd sg. hhon.

- very polite address form used by Brahmans to

address royalty

2nd sg. infer.

- lowest level of respect, used to address inferiors, e.g.

members of the Brahman caste to Sudras juniors

tapāĩ

2nd sg. hon.

- used as polite address (high grade honorific) from

members of the Brahman caste to Vaisyas (seniors) and

Brahman (peers); informal, the formal variant is yahã

timī

2nd sg.

- mid grade honorific, used to address equals and

inferiors, e.g. member of the brahman caste to Sudras

(peer/ senior), to Vaisyas (peer/ junior), to Brahman

(junior)

yahã

2nd sg. hhon.

- literally 'here'; formal variant of high grade honorific

References