Fräulein: Difference between revisions
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{{Foreignchar|ä|Fraeulein}} |
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[[image:Fraulein_.jpg|thumb|246px|Chris Howland: ''Fräulein'']] |
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<!-- NOTE TO ALL NEW CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ARTICLE: this page has been the subject of considerable dispute. Please do not change this page on the basis of anecdotal experience alone--provide references to reliable sources to back up your claims. Referenced additions and corrections to this article would be extremely welcome. Please see the talk page and leave a new comment at the bottom if you need help with this. Thank you. --> |
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| ⚫ | In [[German language|German]], ({{audio|DE_fraeulein.ogg|German pronunciation}}: [frɔɪlaɪn]) '''''Fräulein''''' (literally, "little woman" or "little Mrs.", pronounced {{IPA|/ˈfɹɔɪlaɪn/}}, colloquial form ''Frollein'') is used as a title for young girls |
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| ⚫ | In [[German language|German]], ({{audio|DE_fraeulein.ogg|German pronunciation}}: [frɔɪlaɪn]) '''''Fräulein''''' (literally, "little woman" or "little Mrs.", pronounced {{IPA|/ˈfɹɔɪlaɪn/}}, colloquial form ''Frollein'') is used as a title for young girls or unmarried women as opposed to Frau for married women. It is used with both the first name or the last name (Fräulein Anne)or Fräulein Schmidt). The term has fallen out of favor in some circles as a result of {{second wave feminism}} since "little" can seem condescending to women past school age. Today, the term is used mostly by elderly or socially convervative speakers. In fact, some elderly unmarried women may even consider it inappropriate to be addressed as Frau. Otherwise, it is considered appropriate to address all women as Frau (plus the last name). |
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It is now considered preferable to address all women as ''Frau'' (plus last name).<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.askoxford.com/languages/de/german_letters/?view=uk |
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| title = Writing Letters in German |
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| accessdate = 2006-09-29 |
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| author = Oxford Dictionary |
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| authorlink = Oxford University Press |
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| publisher = Oxford University Press |
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| quote = Note that in German all women are addressed as Frau (the equivalent of both Mrs. and Ms) in formal and business letters. |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.exeter.ac.uk/german/abinitio/chap1-4.html |
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| title = Exeter University Beginners' German |
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| accessdate = 2006-09-29 |
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| author = Exeter University Faculty |
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| quote = The formal use of Fräulein to translate "Miss" is outdated and should be avoided, not least because the literal translation of Fräulein is "little woman"! You should instead use Frau. |
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}}</ref> According to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', ''Fräulein'' can still be used when addressing very young women, such as ''[[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]]'' students by their teachers, or underage girls.<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.askoxford.com/languages/de/german_letters/?view=uk |
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| title = Writing Letters in German |
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| accessdate = 2006-09-29 |
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| author = Oxford Dictionary |
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| authorlink = Oxford University Press |
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| publisher = Oxford University Press |
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| quote = Use Fräulein only when writing to young girls.}}</ref> Some sources assert that ''Fräulein'' is still used to address waitresses,<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/workabroad/countries/switzerland.html |
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| title = Switzerland |
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| accessdate = 2007-07-22 |
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| author = Mary Murray Bosrock |
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| publisher = Dow Jones & Company, Inc. |
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| quote = In the German parts of Switzerland, beckon a waiter by saying Herr Ober, and a waitress by saying Fräulein.}}</ref> but the [[Duden]], the definitive guide to the usage of the German language, states that this is no longer the case.<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.duden.de/deutsche_sprache/newsletter/archiv.php?id=52 |
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| title = Frau und Fräulein in der Anrede |
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| date = 2002-03-06 |
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| accessdate = 2007-11-03 |
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| author = [[Duden]] |
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| quote = That today it is considered fairly outdated to address a young woman as Fräulein should have reached even the most obdurate grouch. When addressing a grown woman one should always choose Frau and this is independent from age and marital status. Fräulein is only appropriate when the addressed women wants this form of addressing. Also in cafes and restaurants it is better to forgo this form of address. Instead of "Fräulein, would you please deliver the bill?", a simple "Excuse me, would you please deliver the bill" suffices}}</ref> |
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''Fräulein'' can be translated as ''[[Miss]] or [[Ms.]]'' in [[English language|English]]; ''Signorina'' in [[Italian language|Italian]]; ''Mademoiselle'' in [[French language|French]]; ''Senhorita'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]; ''Señorita'' in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]; ''Mejuffrouw'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]; ''Maighdeann(-uasal)'' in [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]; ''Gospođica'' in [[Croatian language|Croatian]]/[[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]/[[Serbian language|Serbian]] and ''Ógbhean(-uasal)'' in [[Irish language|Irish]]. |
''Fräulein'' can be translated as ''[[Miss]] or [[Ms.]]'' in [[English language|English]]; ''Signorina'' in [[Italian language|Italian]]; ''Mademoiselle'' in [[French language|French]]; ''Senhorita'' in [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]; ''Señorita'' in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]; ''Mejuffrouw'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]; ''Maighdeann(-uasal)'' in [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]]; ''Gospođica'' in [[Croatian language|Croatian]]/[[Bosnian language|Bosnian]]/[[Serbian language|Serbian]] and ''Ógbhean(-uasal)'' in [[Irish language|Irish]]. |
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==Usage in culture== |
==Usage in culture== |
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[[Literature]] and [[film]] have depicted the usage very well, in some cases already in the title. Examples are [[E.T.A. Hoffmann]]'s tale ''[[Das Fräulein von Scuderi]]'' ([[1819 in literature|1819]]), [[Elizabeth von Arnim]]'s [[epistolary novel]] ''[[Fräulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther]]'' ([[1907 in literature|1907]]), and the [[comedy film]] ''[[Fräulein vom Amt]]'' ([[1954 in film|1954]]), whose title was a common phrase denoting a female [[telephone operator|operator]] at a telephone exchange. In an earlier comedy film, ''[[Unser Fräulein Doktor]]'' ([[1940 in film|1940]]), [[Jenny Jugo]] plays Dr. Elisabeth Hansen, a young attractive teacher at a ''gymnasium'' who has to fight to be taken seriously as an intellectual. |
[[Literature]] and [[film]] have depicted the usage very well, in some cases already in the title. Examples are [[E.T.A. Hoffmann]]'s tale ''[[Das Fräulein von Scuderi]]'' ([[1819 in literature|1819]]), [[Elizabeth von Arnim]]'s [[epistolary novel]] ''[[Fräulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther]]'' ([[1907 in literature|1907]]), and the [[comedy film]] ''[[Fräulein vom Amt]]'' ([[1954 in film|1954]]), whose title was a common phrase denoting a female [[telephone operator|operator]] at a telephone exchange. In an earlier comedy film, ''[[Unser Fräulein Doktor]]'' ([[1940 in film|1940]]), [[Jenny Jugo]] plays Dr. Elisabeth Hansen, a young attractive teacher at a ''gymnasium'' who has to fight to be taken seriously as an intellectual. |
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Revision as of 03:18, 29 November 2007
- This article is about the German word. For the 1958 film, see Fräulein (film).
In German, (: [frɔɪlaɪn]) Fräulein (literally, "little woman" or "little Mrs.", pronounced /ˈfɹɔɪlaɪn/, colloquial form Frollein) is used as a title for young girls or unmarried women as opposed to Frau for married women. It is used with both the first name or the last name (Fräulein Anne)or Fräulein Schmidt). The term has fallen out of favor in some circles as a result of Template:Second wave feminism since "little" can seem condescending to women past school age. Today, the term is used mostly by elderly or socially convervative speakers. In fact, some elderly unmarried women may even consider it inappropriate to be addressed as Frau. Otherwise, it is considered appropriate to address all women as Frau (plus the last name).
Fräulein can be translated as Miss or Ms. in English; Signorina in Italian; Mademoiselle in French; Senhorita in Portuguese; Señorita in Spanish; Mejuffrouw in Dutch; Maighdeann(-uasal) in Scottish Gaelic; Gospođica in Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian and Ógbhean(-uasal) in Irish.
Usage in culture
Literature and film have depicted the usage very well, in some cases already in the title. Examples are E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale Das Fräulein von Scuderi (1819), Elizabeth von Arnim's epistolary novel Fräulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther (1907), and the comedy film Fräulein vom Amt (1954), whose title was a common phrase denoting a female operator at a telephone exchange. In an earlier comedy film, Unser Fräulein Doktor (1940), Jenny Jugo plays Dr. Elisabeth Hansen, a young attractive teacher at a gymnasium who has to fight to be taken seriously as an intellectual.
In English-language film, fräulein has been used as a tip-off word that the characters are actually speaking German. An example of this is The Sound of Music.
"Fräulein" is the title of a 1957 song by Bobby Helms.
"Fräulein" is also the title of a 1960s song sung in German by Chris Howland.[1]
"Fräulein", #3, is also a member of the Arch Rival Roller Girls, a women's flat track roller derby league in St. Louis, Missouri.
The German pop star Fräulein Menke included the term "Fräulein" into her stage name. She was very successful in the early 1980s.