Why is vosotros used here?

Question

I just watched the movie Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno) and I have a question about the way that the faun talks. When the faun talks to the girl (Ofelia), he refers to her in the vosostros form. Why does he do this? Is that how Spanish was spoken in the past?

Thanks

(I'll try to say this in Spanish, but I'm sure there will be many mistakes. Please correct it if you can.)

Acabo de mirar la película El Laberinto Del Fauno y tengo una pregunta sobre la manera de que habla el fauno. Cuando el fauno hable con la chica (Ofelia) se refiere a ella con el vosotros. ¿Por qué lo hace? ¿Es esto como el español fue dicho en el pasado?

Gracias

Are you sure that it is vosotros (plural) and not vos (singular)? Could it be a form of "royal/majestic we" used with nobility. Isn't she a princess in the fantasy realm? - 0074b507, Apr 10, 2011

Creo que siempre vemos una película, no la miramos. :) - galsally, Apr 10, 2011

Isn't 'vos' conjugated the same way as 'tú' except in Aregentina? - galsally, Apr 10, 2011

Depends on the tense. Present tense tú comes, vos comés - 0074b507, Apr 10, 2011

Yes, she is a princess. I think it is vosotros and not vos because it sounded like his commands ended in -ad -ed-id endings, but I could be wrong. - arh1, Apr 10, 2011

I think now, after reading people's answers, that it is definitely being used in reverence. I'm still not sure about the whole vos/vosotros thing. - arh1, Apr 10, 2011

Answer 1

You really have to get time specific when discussing vos, tú, vosotros, usted and vuestra merced. As I understand it vos was once 2nd person plural and was the reverencial vos used to show great respect. Later is became 2nd person, singular and slowly died out (in Spain) becoming tú which became familiar and used by servants and lower class. Vos otros (you othersl) became 2nd person, plural informal, while vuestra merced (later usted) became used for gentry and religious office holders.

As their roles completelyreversed from singular/plural and informal/formal you have to be time specific when talking about their meaning.

Would vos commands used in the reverencial 2nd person plural be conjugated with -ad -ed -id endings? - arh1, Apr 10, 2011

excellent information, Quentin! - galsally, Apr 11, 2011

Answer 2

Good question, I remember when I read 'La catedral del mar', which was set in the 14th century, I saw verbs constructed in the vosotros form when only one person was being addressed. It seemed to happen particularly when the person being addressed was a member of the clergy, or somebody 'important'. I didn't investigate but assumed it was some sort of deferential mode of talking, like the Queen using 'we'. (are not amused!)

Me parece una buena pregunta. Me acuerdo que cuando leía La catedral del mar, que está ambientado en el ciglo 14, notaba que había verbos que se construían en la forma de vosotros cuando se los dirigían a personas como las del clérigo, también a alguien 'importante'. No lo averigué sino suponía que se trataba de una especie de etiqueta, como cuando la reina va usando 'nosotros' (no nos divertimos)

I've also noted some confusing of verbs in 'La sombra del viento' - there's a waiter who has a grand accent, here's a liitle example...

Además he observado unas confusiones de verbos en 'La sombra del viento' - hay un camarero que tiene un gran acento, aquí os pongo un ejemplillo...

"¿Vosotro utede soy lo que habéi pedío lo entrepane de jamong?"

(¿Vosotros ustedes sois los que habéis pedido los entrepanes de jamón?)

and

".... si no podéi utede ingerí producto cárnico por motivo de consiensia religiosa..."

(...si no podéis ustedes ingerir productos cárnicos por motivo de consciencia religiosa...)

I hope I've understood it correctly.

Espero que lo haya entendido lo suficiente.

Por favor, corregid mi español. :D

Es "acento", no "accento". - lazarus1907, Apr 10, 2011

gracias Lazarus- era un typo - ¿no hice más errores? - galsally, Apr 11, 2011

Answer 3

I thought it was just to be creepy..... I could be totally wrong though.