ENGLISH LANGUAGE -SECOND PERSON PRONOUNS

"You" is the 2nd person pronoun in English. Used both in singular and plural numbers. Same when used between equals and unequals.

In the old English there used to be a pronoun "thou". Used in singular. At that time there was a choice between "thou" and "you". When a person wanted to show respect to the other man he was choosing "you". Between equals or while conversing with God he was using "thou".

Sanskrit and English both belong to the Indo-European group of languages. Now, see the similarities in using the second person pronouns:

Sanskrit : tvam. English : thou;
Sanskrit : yuvam. English : you.

Even today Sanskrit is continuing both the pronouns.

Often we may land in a perplexing situation whether to use tvam(thou) or yuvan(you), as it will reflect on the degree of respectability of receiver of our communication. Since, English uses the respectable plural "you are", it is a safer language. One always shows courtesy and receives courtesy.

TEACHER STUDENT RELATIONS

In Sanskrit, the teacher (guru) is kept on a higher pedestal and it is sinful to use the word tvam(thou) singular while referring to or speaking to the teacher. Such disciple will be reborn as a demon in a desertlike waterless forest. This is, too extreme a threat. Now it can provoke laughter. In the Western Colleges and Universities, there seems to be a custom of the student and the teacher moving so freely that they may smoke together, exchange drinks or play a game on an equal footing. Today's education has become more egalitarian in teacher - student relations.

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SANSKRIT VERSE

gurum tvam krutva hum krutva
guru saannithya bhaashan'a:
aran'yee nirjalee dees'ee
sambhaveet brahma raakshasa:.

Pronunciation note: Letters followed by ' apostraphe have a retroflex sound. (gist: A person who addresses teacher in singular number or becomes irate towards teacher will be reborn as a demon in a desert jungle. )