This is going to sound weird but...
when you get married your parents call your spouse "son in law" or "daughter in law" and your siblings call them "brother in law" or "sister in law". Does that sound a little weird if you really think about it? It sounds like you married someone whom has become your "brother" or "sister". Could someone explain to me why this is the relationship you inherit when you get married?
2007-01-30 16:12:14 · 25 answers · asked by infiniteson 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
haven't you heard the saying "you don't marry just your wife/husband but you marry their family"? well it's true.
so that's why they become a brother/sister in law. it's also how if I marry my boyfriend his nephew becomes my nephew and my 2 become his 2....
not really sure why but it makes sense to me! and I enjoy having a sister in law! it's the older sister I never had.
2007-01-30 16:16:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you find this weird then what you think is the right way to call.
Also son in law or daughter in law is apt and correct, How would you call sonmeone screwing their daughter , a son would it not sound weird that is why it is called son in law. Legally he can screw. When they call him son the he will become brother. Think little enough atleast before shooting a question.
Unfortunately in English there are hardly 4 or 5 relationships addressed. Come to India and see for yourself how relationships are named it is more than 50. If you could not visit india ask an indian in your country you live. He will teach you. I suppose there must be plenty of Indians over there. Please check.
2007-01-30 16:26:22 · answer #2 · answered by Loganathan Raja Rajun R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the origins of "in law" relates more to parents and siblings.
In many cultures, you "marry into" a family. For example, my wife is my parents "daughter-in-law" to others, but to us, she is their daughter. Similarly, my "in-laws" prefer to be called mom and dad.
Despite this, the best way to accurately and clearly state your relationship to others is the use the "in-law" designation so they understand it's someone on your spouses side of the family.
2007-01-30 16:23:11 · answer #3 · answered by Matt O 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just recently got married last year and I dont understand it either hun. Im not all that close to my "brother" & "sister" in laws. My father in law hated me for the longest time. I guess they refer to them like that because your suppose to become one big happy family & form a brotherly & sisterly bond with your spouses siblings, which rarely happens these days. Ive managed to get along with a few of my new in-laws, but were far from being one big happy family. Just remeber, you might have to put up with your in-laws, but you dont have to like them, hehe.
2007-01-30 16:18:20 · answer #4 · answered by Spinn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, when you get married, it is seen as "the two becoming one", so you and your spouse are (somewhat) the same, connected person. So, your siblings would call your spouse "brother in law" or "sister in law" because your spouse is basically now their brother or sister.
2007-01-30 16:16:55 · answer #5 · answered by Jdogg1508 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The reason its "in-law" is exactly what it says. By law, when you marry someone, the law sees the person you married as part of your family lawfully, just not blood. Meaning, a women's sister, is her husbands sister-in-law, or in other words, sister by law. Hope this clarifies.
2007-01-30 16:17:39 · answer #6 · answered by bethv_84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For that matter, who decided to call mothers, fathers, sisters... mother, father... in the first place? Question one thing and you spiral into a million more questions... But I really liked the answer that marriage is about "2 becoming 1". So your wife is not also your sister, but your wife is also part of you...
I've wondered that before and I like the answer a couple of them gave you. :)
2007-01-30 16:47:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its because they become that by marriage law, It's a courtesy really, i have a sis in law and my husband has a sis in law and my dad loves the fact that he now has a "SON" so it's really just a matter of prefrence.
2007-01-30 16:16:35 · answer #8 · answered by useless_knowledge 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. It IS kinda weird when you think about it.
I guess it's just an easier way than saying "The husband of my daughter."
But once they're married, they are part of the family... I guess "in law" means legally they are part of your family now. Also in God's eyes.
2007-01-30 16:15:30 · answer #9 · answered by ( Kelly ) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you marry someone, you & him/her is considered as 'one'. So your parents will deem him/her as their own son/daughter; and your sisters & brothers will deem him as a brother/sister.
The 'son-in-law', 'daughter-in-law,'brother-in-law' and 'sister-in-law is for your family to recognise him as a part of family and also for them to acknowledge the fact that you are now married to him/her. You henceforth have to be a part of him/her and vice versa for his/her family.
2007-01-30 16:28:31 · answer #10 · answered by vach1970 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋