Text 2. Forms of Address

Just like Ukrainians and other nations, the British use different kinds of names and titles for establishing and maintaining social relations. There are lots of different reasons for choosing an adequate name or a title. The main reasons are as follows:

1) the relationship of the speaker with the other person;

2. the degree of formality;

3. the degree of politeness and friendliness and the like.

For example, if Mr. James Smith is checking in at a hotel where he has made advance reservations, he says: My name is James Smith, because he knows that this is the name the receptionist must look up. If he is introducing himself to a new neighbour and wishes to allow the neighbour to determine the level of friendship they can expect of each other, he says: I’m Jim Smith. If he is introducing himself to a small child, indicating an address form for him, he says: I’m Mr Smith. If he is introducing himself in one of those modern settings which call for intimacy but not familiarity, he says: I’m Jim.

The most frequently used titles in English-speaking countries are Mr, Mrs, Miss. These are used by the British when they speak to people they do not know very well. As a rule, Mr, Mrs, Miss are followed by the surname, for example: "Mr Allen" to a man, "Mrs Allen" to a married woman, "Miss Allen" to a girl or a woman who has never been married or divorced. Now it is increasingly frequently used by married women who do not want to take their husband’s surname.

Apart from the above titles there appeared recently a new title used by modern women who do not wish to be identified as married or unmarried. It is Ms [miz], e.g.: Ms Sue Smith.

Remember: it is not polite to use these titles alone without the surname. The only exception is "Miss" which is widely used as a form of address to a woman-teacher by primary schoolchildren. No title is used before a first name when the surname is not mentioned, e.g.: Tom or Jane.

Titles can be used more generally to mark the speaker’s relation to the person addressed. For example, Sir and Madam are vocatives which mark respect or distance to a stranger. These are used to men and women by people performing a service for the public, e.g.: some shopkeepers, policemen, a ticket collector, etc. But you’ll sound ridiculous if you use any of these vocatives yourself. However, don’t be surprised if someone uses one of them to you when you’re on a stay in Britain.

Other titles of respect and some professional titles can be used as vocatives:

Ladies and Gentlemen (formal opening of a speech)

My lord! (to a peer, a bishop, a British judge, etc.)

Your Excellency (to an ambassador)

Mr President

Prime Minister

Officer (to policemen of any rank by everybody)

Father (to a priest)

Doctor (to a medical doctor)

Professor (to a University teacher at the highest level holding a chair of some branch of learning). Professor Brown/Smith, etc. sounds less formal.

Waiter/Waitress/Porter/Nurse, etc. (to people who give you service). However these professional titles are considered by many impolite now. Instead British people prefer to say "Excuse me, (please)?"

To get somebody’s attention, the British generally use vocatives such as John, Mrs Johnson, Dr. Smith, etc.

As for the forms of address to strangers, it should be said that they are restricted in English. "Sir" and especially "Madam" are too formal to be used in most situations. Thus, to get the attention of a stranger you may often have to rely on "Excuse me?"

Unit 2. FAMILY. PERSON’S CHARACTER