Valediction

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A valediction (derivation from Latin vale dicere ("to say farewell")) is an expression used to say farewell, especially at the end of a letter, or the act of saying parting words- whether brief, or extensive.

The word valediction is commonly used in English to refer to a complimentary closing - a courteous, formulaic phrase preceding the writer's signature that expresses the writer's good will toward the recipient.

For the greetings counterpart to valediction, see salutation.

Contents

[edit] In letters by language

[edit] English

[edit] Old formal valedictions

English language valedictions typically contain the word yours, a contraction of your servant; old valedictions were usually voluminous, a complete sentence of the form:

I beg to remain, Sir, your most humble and obedient servant,
O.G.

This form is occasionally abbreviated to

Your obt svt,
O.G.

As well as

YOS,
O.G.

[edit] Yours sincerely

In the UK, traditional valedictions have largely been replaced by the use of "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully", a shorter from of the archaic "I am yours sincerely".

Yours sincerely is typically employed when the recipient is addressed by name and is known to the sender to some degree, while with Yours faithfully the recipient is not known by name (i.e. the recipient is addressed by a phrase such as "Dear Sir/Madam").

When the recipient's name is known, but not previously met or spoken with, some prefer the use of the more distant Yours faithfully.

In the US, "Sincerely yours" is commonly used in social correspondence, and "Faithfully yours" in business correspondence with someone whose name is unknown to the writer (i.e., in a letter addressed "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern").

[edit] Yours truly,

Yours truly can carry either or both of two connotations: as a valediction, and by implication, as an informal reference by a person to themselves - "the speaker".

As valediction

Commonly appearing in the US as "Yours truly," or "Very truly yours,". Use in the UK it is not common, seen only in informal or social correspondence.

As self-reference

Mostly UK slang, this usage varies by area, and is uncommon in many regions. It acts as a social device to circumvent the affectation of a boastful appearance, or of taking blame. Thus:

  • "Yours truly made the cake" -- a more polite informal way to say "I made the cake".
  • "If yours truly hadn't been sick that day..."

In this manner, one may sarcastically refer to a third person present in the conversation:

  • "Everything was going fine before yours truly, here, showed up..."

[edit] Yours aye

"Yours aye" is a Scottish expression meaning "yours always"

[edit] Yours, etc.

Used historically for abbreviated endings. Can be found in older newspaper letters to the editor, and often in US legal correspondence. "&c." may be seen instead of "etc." (see the article et cetera).

In Jane Austen books, some letters are signed Yours, etc. or Yours Sincerely, etc.

[edit] Kind regards, best regards

Increasingly common in business usage, "kind regards" and especially "best regards" are often used as a semi-formal valediction in emails. In informal usage, they are often abbreviated to "BR" or "KR". The use of "kind regards" is most likely derived from the more formal, "kindest regards," which is itself a phrase derived from the even more formal combination of "Kindest regards, I remain," "yours" or "truly yours" or any one of a number of valedictions in common usage.

[edit] I have the honour to remain... your most humble and obedient servant

This is used when addressing certain dignified personages, such as heads of state. E.g. "I have the honour to remain, Sir, Your Excellency's most humble and obedient servant".

[edit] Miscellaneous

Other less formal expressions exist, often some variant of Best wishes such as All my best or, simply, Best. For family members or intimates, an expression such as Your friend, Your loving son or (in the case of lovers) Your Albert may be used; or the name may simply be preceded with All my love or Love.

Less commonly, other adverbs or adverbial phrases may be used, in keeping with the tone of the letter, such as In solidarity or Fraternally. Christian clergy often use Yours in Christ.

[edit] French

Standard French language valedictions tend to be much more complex than standard English ones, more akin to older English valedictions. They show a fair degree of variation, for example:

Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes sentiments distingués.
"Please receive , Madam, Sir, the expression of my distinguished sentiments."

Or:

Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur, mes sincères salutations.
"Please receive, Sir, my sincere salutations."

Or:

Je vous prie de croire, Madame, à mes sentiments les meilleurs.
"I beg you to believe, Madam, in my best sentiments."

In the latter case of a formula beginning with the first person, the valediction is often enhanced with a participial phrase concluding the sense of the letter (since traditionally it is not consider appropriate to begin a paragraph with the first person singular je in a letter):

Espérant recevoir une réponse favorable, je vous prie d'agréer, Madame...
"Hoping for a favourable answer, I beg you to allow, Madam..."

A number of rules concern the use of these formulae. For example, the title used in the salutation of the letter must be reproduced in the valediction; so a letter addressing Madame la députée would conclude, Veuillez, Madame la députée.

Other rules exist:

  • the wording recevoir l'assurance should be used in a letter from a hierarchical superior to an inferior, whereas the wording agréer expression should be used in a letter from a hierarchical inferior to a superior, and not conversely.
  • in a letter from a man to a woman or from a woman to a man, the writer must not send sentiments if they are not close family relatives (i.e. mother and son, father and daughter, brother and sister, or possibly close cousins).

Such formulae may be used even in more friendly letters, often with the adjective cher or chère for the recipient. Letters to dignitaries may use even more grandiose styles, such as:

Daignez, Monsieur le Premier ministre, agréer l'expression de ma très distinguée considération.
"Deign, Mr. Prime Minister, to allow the expression of my most distinguished consideration."

According to the French typographic rules, the proper capitalization fot the official title is "Premier ministre" although people who mimic English titles or fear that they might appear disrespectful often use more capitals than the rules commend.

Veuillez agréer, Madame l'Ambassadeur, l'expression de mes salutations les plus respectueuses.
"Please allow, Madam Ambassador, the expression of my most respectful salutations."

Another French typographic rule also states that when addressing someone, styles like Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle, should never be abbreviated, even if followed by a title (hence, writing M. le Premier Ministre or Mme l'Ambassadeur would be considered rude).

France being a country of catholic tradition, there exists a special valediction for letters addressed to the Pope, which, curiously, is very short in comparison with other French valedictions:

Et que Dieu...
"And let God..."

Much shorter styles may be used in brief notes (Sincères salutations), and informal letters (such as between intimates) may use expressions such as (with approximate English equivalents—not literal translations):

  • Amicalement ("In friendship")
  • Amitiés ("Your friend")
  • À bientôt ("See you soon")
  • Au plaisir de vous revoir ("Hope to see you soon")
  • Bien amicalement ("Yours warmly")
  • Bien à vous ("Yours truly")
  • Cordialement ("Cordially")
  • Meilleures salutations ("Warmest greetings")
  • Salutations distinguées ("Sincere greetings")

Unlike in English, when the letter writer has a title that is unique in his or her organization, it is placed before, not after, the name:

Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur, mes sincères salutations.
La vice-présidente des ressources humaines,
A.B.

[edit] Hebrew

Formal letters in Hebrew often end with "b'chavod" (Hebrew: בכבוד, lit: with honor) or informally, "kol tuv" (Hebrew: כל טוב, lit: all the best). Jews in the United States commonly use "B'shalom" or "shaloom" (Hebrew: בשלום, lit: in peace) within Jewish circles; this form is rarely heard from native speakers of Hebrew.

[edit] German

Valedictions in German tend to be subject to similar flexibility as in French, are however a great deal less complex. The highly formal form Hochachtungsvoll has been practically obsolete for many years and is very rarely used in modern German, except for highly formal correspondence from authorities or in letters with a highly negative connotation where "friendliness" would not be appropriate.

The standard business valediction is Mit freundlichen Grüßen (lit. "with friendly regards") and is equivalent to Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully in English. A more seldom used variant of this is Mit freundlichem Gruß, which is as above but in the singular form. Other semi-formal alternatives include (roughly in order of formality, most to least) Mit besten Grüßen (lit. "with best regards"), Beste Grüße, Mit herzlichen Grüßen (lit. "with sincere regards"), Viele Grüße (lit. "many regards"), Schöne Grüße (lit. "nice regards").

German valedictions also offer the possibility of adding your location, e.g. Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus Berlin to added effect. While this is no less formal, it does have a more "relaxed" feel to it.

These valedictions are also often adapted to specific professions, states or political views. For example, socialist and communist groups often use Mit solidarischen Grüßen ("with regards in solidarity"), Mit sportlichen Grüßen, ("with sporting regards") for sportspersons and Mit gebärdenfreundlichen Grüßen ("with friendly regards in sign language") among persons hard of hearing.

More familiar valedictions in German follow the same formula. "Alles Liebe" or "(Viele) liebe Grüße" are common in German for friends or family. Male friends or close colleagues among each other may use simply "Gruß".

It is possible in informal and rapid e-mail communication to sometimes use abbreviations of the forms, unlike in English. In this way, Mit freundlichen Grüßen may be shortened to mfg and Liebe Grüße may be shortened to lg. A popular form in German in recent years, hdgdl (hab dich ganz doll lieb, lit. "am fond of you", often used for somewhere between "I like you" and "I love you") has found increased usage in SMS text messaging and e-mails in more intimate relationships.

The German Criminal Code forbids the use of "Mit deutschem Gruß", as it has National Socialist overtones.

[edit] Turkish

Some sample valedictions and their meanings in Turkish are as follows;

FORMAL (BUSINNESS):

  • "Saygılarımızla" (with our respects, used by companies-groups etc.)
  • "Saygılarımla" (with my respects)
  • "İyi çalışmalar dilerim" (Wish you success in your work)

INFORMAL (PERSONAL):

  • "Allah'a emanet olunuz" (May God protect you with watchful eye)
  • "Görüşmek üzere" (See you later)
  • "Görüşürüz" (See you later)
  • "Sevgilerimle" (with my love)

The following two are used in official letters; though they mean more or less the same "Requesting from you with respect", they differ to which hierarchical level you are sending the letter to.

  • "Arz ederim" (is sent to higher hierarchical level)
  • "Rica ederim" (is sent to lower or same hierarchical level)

[edit] Valedictions in e-mail

Valedictions in formal e-mail are similar to valedictions in letters: on the whole, they are variations of "regards" and "yours". However, a wide range of popular valedictions are used in casual e-mail but very rarely in letters. These include:

  • Cheers
  • Keep in touch
  • Take care
  • Warmly
  • Best

E-mail messages, especially those used for very brief communication, are commonly signed off without valedictions, these being replaced by automatically appended signature texts. Some are not signed at all, since a sender's name is usually provided in the message headers.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

ISBN 0-87779-709-9

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valediction"
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