The Daily Telegraph reports that the formal “vous” is dying, according to reports from Paris. 

Like most European languages, French maintains the distinction between the formal and the informal in the second person. Those one does not know, or whom one has as a mother-in-law (or, rather confusingly, for whom one harbours a passionate desire) are addressed as “vous”.

One’s youngers, intimates, domestic pets and God are “tu”, though we are reliably informed that Mme Chirac vousvoyered her husband even before he reached the Elysée.

Now, we hear from Paris that the formal “vous” is dying, and one can find oneself addressed as “tu” even by those to whom one has not been properly introduced.

The loss of this distinction is painful; there is nothing more annoying than assumed intimacy, which suggests lack of respect. France should be advised to rescue this usage - and Anglophones should regret that their own tongue no longer allows for such a nicety

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