The only time I've ever wished we did [eta: use titles, that is] was when a carer [I'm not sure what the actual term is in English - it was someone who worked at a retirement home] called my grandmother by her first name and made it sound like she was addressing a kindergarten child. Given the situation - this was a woman charged with all the care you'd give to a two-year-old, but my grandmother was past ninety and mentally well, if physically extremely weak - I thought she might have at least addressed a woman who had been used to being addressed as Mrs [last name] all her life with a bit more formality. I never did say "That's Mrs [last name] to you!" but the thought did cross my mind.
The most common thing to do, really, is using just the first name, whether you're addressing you're best friend, your teacher or you boss. Last names are used in address mainly if two people have the same first name, and you want to make it clear who you're talking to. I've actually no idea about the Russian patronymics. I've always imagined that they still were in use, but like you said - I might have got that solely out of Dostoevsky, and he's probably a bit out of date by now.
[My first name has three syllables when pronounced correctly. I don't mind the fact that English people have an easier time just dealing with two, but must they shorten it to just one?]
no subject
Date: Wednesday, 3 June 2009 05:43 pm (UTC)From:The most common thing to do, really, is using just the first name, whether you're addressing you're best friend, your teacher or you boss. Last names are used in address mainly if two people have the same first name, and you want to make it clear who you're talking to. I've actually no idea about the Russian patronymics. I've always imagined that they still were in use, but like you said - I might have got that solely out of Dostoevsky, and he's probably a bit out of date by now.
[My first name has three syllables when pronounced correctly. I don't mind the fact that English people have an easier time just dealing with two, but must they shorten it to just one?]