We have Mr., Mrs., and Ms, but nothing else.
I admire, respect, and look up to my mentor, and we are becoming really good friends, but calling him by his first name would be innapropriate as he is in his 70s, and I am in my 20s. However, Mr. is rather inconvenient because it puts a distance between us.
2006-08-18 00:28:06 · 6 answers · asked by mommy_mommy_crappypants 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Because we (idealistically) see each other, when friends, as equals, irrespective of age.
What we consider an honorific, would be to call them by the name of their choosing. A person's name might officially be "Daniel", and to those who just know him in passing (like a co-worker), he might be called "Dan" (because of its simplicity)... but because his preference is "Danny", to honor him, his close friends would call him such.
Because of that being the generality, we have no need for specific honorifics like -sama, -kun, -chan, etc.
2006-08-18 00:46:18 · answer #1 · answered by seraphim_pwns_u 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Abby had just such a question this past week,and they brought up the charming southern custom of adding Mr. or Mrs. in front of the persons first name to indicate respect.However,you've already had a long term relation with your mentor,it would be difficult to institute now.Some older rural settings used to use the Aunt or Uncle title for respected individuals of a community,same problem.
We also have other honorifics,of course-Doctor,Nurse,and informally,in work enviornments,we use nicknames as honorifics,like Doc for skilled technicians,or professor,for well read individuals-they're sort of humorous,but they are meant as complements.
2006-08-18 02:12:03 · answer #2 · answered by foxspearman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Respect doesn't come just from adding something in front of a person's name. That is an outward sign of respect but just because you call someone Mr. Smith, doesn't mean you respect him. Just means someone along the way told you it was a sign of showing respect. If you are developing a close and respectful relationship, if he wants you to call him by his first name, it's respectful to do that. If you want to have it both ways, you could shorten the last name because that can be endearing. If last name is Johnson, call him Mr. J.
America never had a domestic, ruling royal family. Probably accounts for the lack of honorifics. One of the premises of America is that all men are created equal. Of course that didn't quite stick up through American history but that's another story. I'm just saying I think because we never had a royal family who ruled from and lived on American soil, our society didn't pick up with using terms like Lord, Master, and such.
2006-08-18 02:23:18 · answer #3 · answered by stimply 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
USA as I know got a history of respect to individuals just not by looking into their age, cast, religion etc. Inorder to give that social equality, rest all had to be abandoned. Even if this is accidental, probably that is how it might have happened.
I am from a southern state of India. There are somany honorifics in our language. It is actually a problem many a times. An apt selection for that particular person by considering his age, relation, the position he was in etc some times I feel unnecessary and is a hindrance to proper communication.
2006-08-18 01:21:55 · answer #4 · answered by r_govardhanam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Monseuir, Senhor and Herr also puts a distance between people. you want to have your cake and eat it too.
2006-08-18 00:44:08 · answer #5 · answered by apollo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sir..... Master.....
2006-08-18 00:47:52 · answer #6 · answered by olly_olemassa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋