A social category in which group members are defined by social connections for example, uncle (English), mamo (Urdu/Hindi), amm (Arabic), farmor (Norwegian), etc.These are categories of social organization that we can use to say how we are connected to others. Address Terms: An address term is a word or phrase for the person being talked or written to. When a man on the street asks another, Brother, can you spare a dollar?, the word brother is being used as an address term.
The man is using the term ‘brother’ which is usually use among family members, to create closeness or solidarity with that person, perhaps leading to a willingness to hand over some cash.
Address Terms for Equal Relationship: When a man on the street asks another, Brother, can you spare a dollar?, the word brother is being used as an address term. The man is using the term ‘brother’ (which is usually use in family members), to create closeness or solidarity with that person. perhaps leading to a willingness to hand over some cash.
We use some formal and unequal address terms where one has more power, like doctor or doctor Usman.
More Equal Relationships: More equal relationships have address terms that indicate similar status of the participants, such as first names or nicknames: Bucky, ready for some more coffee? ~ Thanks, Jen.
T/V Distinction: In many languages, there is a choice between pronouns used for addressees who are socially close versus distant. This is known as the T/V distinction. In video, I have shown T/V distinction in French, German, English and Urdu/Hindi.
Pronouns Usage and Power relations in different Languages:
ENGLISH: The higher-status or more powerful speaker could use tu or thou to a lower-status addressee, but not vice versa, as the Quaker Richard Davis discovered to his detriment (described in this chapter’s opening quotation).
FRENCH: Lower-status individuals had to use the vous forms when addressing those of higher status. This usage is described as non-reciprocal, but the reciprocal use (both speakers using the same form) of the tu forms has generally increased in Europe among younger speakers, such as students, who may not know each other really well, but who find themselves in the same situation.
Women Address Terms in English: The women’s address terms include information about their social status. In fact, one address term for a woman indicates that she is the wife of a particular man as in Mrs. Dexter Smith (or just Mrs. Smith). Dexter is never addressed as Mr. (Betsy) Cuddlesworth.
REFERENCE: Yule, G. (2017) The Study of Language (6th edition) Cambridge University Press
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