Honorifics 101

Honorifics
An honorific (sometimes Honorable) is a word or expression that conveys esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title. It is also often conflated with systems of honorific speech in linguistics, which are grammatical or morphological ways of encoding the relative social status of speakers.
Typically honorifics are used for second and third persons; use for first person is less common. Some languages have anti-honorific or despective first person forms (meaning something like "your most humble servant" or "this unworthy person") whose effect is to enhance the relative honor accorded a second or third person.
Modern English honorifics
The most common honorifics in modern English are usually placed immediately before the name of the subject. Honorifics which can be used of any adult of the appropriate sex include "Mr", "Mrs", "Miss", and "Ms". Other honorifics denote the honored person’s occupation, for instance "Doctor", "Coach", Officer, "Father" (for a priest), or "Professor". Abbreviations of academic degrees, used after a person's name, may also be seen as a kind of honorific (e.g. "Jane Doe, Ph.D.")
Some honorifics act as complete replacements for a name, as "Sir" or "Ma'am", or "Your Honour". Subordinates will often use honorifics as punctuation before asking a superior a question or after responding to an order: "Yes, Sir" or even "Sir, yes Sir."
A judge is addressed as "Your Honour" when on the bench, and may be referred to as "His/Her Honour"; the plural form would be "Your Honours". Similarly, a monarch (ranking as a king or emperor) and his consort may be addressed or referred to as "Your/His/Her Majesty", "Their Majesties", etc. (but there is no customary honorific accorded to a female monarch's consort, as he is usually granted a specific style). Monarchs below kingly rank are addressed as "Your/His/Her Highness", the exact rank being indicated by an appropriate modifier, e.g. "His Serene Highness" for a member of a princely dynasty, or "Her Grandducal Highness" for a member of a family that reigns over a grand duchy. Verbs with these honorifics as subject are conjugated in the third person (e.g. "you are going" vs. "Your Honour is going" or "Her Royal Highness is going".)
In music, a distinguished conductor or virtuoso instrumentalist may be known as "Maestro

Modern English honorifics
The most common honorifics in modern English are usually placed immediately before the name of the subject. Honorifics which can be used of any adult of the appropriate sex include "Mr", "Mrs", "Miss", and "Ms". Other honorifics denote the honored person’s occupation, for instance "Doctor", "Coach", Officer, "Father" (for a priest), or "Professor". Abbreviations of academic degrees, used after a person's name, may also be seen as a kind of honorific (e.g. "Jane Doe, Ph.D.")
Some honorifics act as complete replacements for a name, as "Sir" or "Ma'am", or "Your Honour". Subordinates will often use honorifics as punctuation before asking a superior a question or after responding to an order: "Yes, Sir" or even "Sir, yes Sir."
A judge is addressed as "Your Honour" when on the bench, and may be referred to as "His/Her Honour"; the plural form would be "Your Honours". Similarly, a monarch (ranking as a king or emperor) and his consort may be addressed or referred to as "Your/His/Her Majesty", "Their Majesties", etc. (but there is no customary honorific accorded to a female monarch's consort, as he is usually granted a specific style). Monarchs below kingly rank are addressed as "Your/His/Her Highness", the exact rank being indicated by an appropriate modifier, e.g. "His Serene Highness" for a member of a princely dynasty, or "Her Grandducal Highness" for a member of a family that reigns over a grand duchy. Verbs with these honorifics as subject are conjugated in the third person (e.g. "you are going" vs. "Your Honour is going" or "Her Royal Highness is going".)
In music, a distinguished conductor or virtuoso instrumentalist may be known as "Maestro".
Honorifics in other languages and cultures
Pakistan
Pakistan has a large number of honorific forms that may be used with or as a substitute for names. The most common honorifics in Pakistan are usually placed immediately before the name of the subject or immediately after the subject. There are a lot of variations across Pakistan.
Prefix type
The traditional Urdu honorific in Pakistan for a male is the prefic "-Mohtaram". For example Syed Mohammad Jahangir would become Mohtaram Syed Mohammad Jahangir The traditional Urdu honorific in Pakistan for a female is the prefix "-Mohtarma". For example Shamim Ara would become Mohtarma Shamim Ara
Suffix type
The traditional Urdu honorific in Pakistan for a male is the suffix "-Sahab". For example Syed Zaki Ahmed would become Syed Zaki Ahmed Sahab The traditional Urdu honorific in Pakistan for a female is the suffix "-Sahiba". For example Shamim Ara would become Shamim Ara Sahiba
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome had Roman honorifics like that of Augustus which turned into titles over time.
Spanish
Spanish has a number of honorific forms that may be used with or as substitutes for names, such as señor 'Mr., Sir, gentleman', señora 'Mrs., Lady, ma'am, lady', señorita 'Miss, young lady', licenciado 'person with a bachelor's degree', maestro 'teacher, master mechanic, person with a master's degree', doctor 'doctor', etc.
Italy
Italian honorifics are usually limited to formal situations.
Turkey
Turkish honorifics generally follow the first name, especially if they refer to gender or particular social statuses (e.g. Name Bey (Mr.), Name Hanım (Ms.), Name Hoca (teacher or cleric)). Such honorifics are used both in formal and informal situations. A newer honorific is "Sayın", which precedes the surname or full name, and is not gender-specific. (e.g. Sayın Name Surname, or Sayın Surname). They are generally used in very formal situations.
India
Indian honorifics abound, covering formal and informal relationships for social, commercial, spiritual and generational links. Honorifics may be prefix, suffix or replacement types. There are many variations across India.
Prefix type
The most common honorifics in India are usually placed immediately before the name of the subject. Honorifics which can be used of any adult of the appropriate sex include "Sri" (also Romanised as Shri, acronym for Sriman) "Smt" (acronym for Srimati), and "Kum" (acronym for Kumari). In Tamil, Thiru (acronym of Thiruvalar for males) and Thirumathi (for females) are used.
Replacement type
Some honorifics act as complete replacements for a name, as "Bhavān" or "Bhavatī".
In Gujarati, for an uncle who is your mother's brother the replacement honorific "maama" (long "a" then short "a") is used and a male friend will often earn the suffix honorific of "bhai".
Hindi also distinguishes between the pronouns for example a person older in age or status is referred as "aap" whereas a younger person is called "tum" [ both substituting for 'you' in English ] . Similar distinction exists for third person pronouns. When honorifics are attached in Hindi, the verb matches the plural case.
Suffix type
• The traditional Hindi honorific is the suffix -ji. For example M.K. Gandhi (The Mahatma) was often referred to as Gandhi-ji.
• The traditional Kannada honorific is the suffix -avaru. For example Visveswariah was referred to as Visveswariah-avaru.
• The traditional Marathi honorific is the suffix -rao. For example Madhav Scindia was referred to as Madhav-rao.
• The traditional Tamil honorific is the suffix Avargal/Vaal. The Dalai Lama would become Dalai Lama Avargal.
• The traditional Telugu honorific is the suffix Garu. Thus the Dalai Lama would be Dalai Lama Garu.
Korea
Korean honorifics are used not only as sentences but also words.
China
During the ancient and imperial periods, Chinese honorifics varied greatly based on one's social status, but with the end of Imperial China, many of these distinctions fell out of colloquial use. Some honorifics remain in use today, especially in formal writings for the court and business setting.
Japan
Japanese honorifics are similar to English titles like "Mister" and "Miss"; but in Japanese, which has many honorifics, their use is mandatory in many formal and informal social situations. Japanese grammar as a whole tends to function on hierarchy—honorific stems are appended to verbs and some nouns, and in many cases one word may be exchanged for another word entirely with the same verb- or noun-meaning, but with different honorific connotations. The Japanese personal pronouns are a good example of the honorific hierarchy of the Japanese language—there are five or more words that correspond to each of the English words, "I" and "you".
Java
Indonesia's Javanese majority ethnicity has many honorifics[1]. I Gusti means His or Her Royal Majesty Bendara Raden Mas, Bendara Mas or the contraction "'ndoro" means Prince, flag-bearer "His Higness" Bapak and its contraction Pak mean: Sir, Mister or literally "Father".
Ibu and its contraction Bu mean: Madam, Ma'am,. Ms or Mrs, literally "Mother"
Raden Emas and its contraction Mas mean: Mr. among colleagues, friends, and others of slightly higher age or social status, literally Golden Son or Lord or Heir Apparent. Raden Emas Behi contracted to Mas Behi means 2nd Heir Apparent and is now obsolete. Raden Behi, contracted to Den Behi means Heir Apparent and is now obsolete. mbak yu and the more common mbak are derived from Surakarta court to address adolescent or marriage age unmarried women, but is now for women , with no age or marital status connotation
Eyang Puteri and its contraction Eyang mean: Grand Lady, literally grandmother.
Eyang Putera Kakung and its contraction Eyang Kakung mean: Grand Sir, literally grandfather.
Bapak Gede and its contraction Pak de mean: Grand Sir, literally big father or uncle o relative older than one's father .
Bapak Cilik and its contraction Pak lik mean: for a very familiar friend Sir, literally small father or a relative younger than one's Gaflakapus father- but very familiar.
Mbok is not an honorific and denotes a very low status older woman.
Bang or Bung is a somewhat outdated and egalitarian term to refer to a brotherhood among males. Bang is Betawi language for Mas.
Malay
Malay honorifics are the Malay language's complex system of titles and honorifics which is still extensively used in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders.
Lecture
Chinese
. This is often used in the workplace and on more formal occasions:
Chinese Pinyin Chinese The same meaning in English
Hu Zhu Xi 胡主席 President Hu
Zhang Jing Li 张经理 Manager Zhang
Liu Zhu Ren 刘主任 Director Liu
To address based on professional qualifications, which expresses respect to those being addressed:


Chinese Pinyin Chinese The same meaning in English
Li Jiao Shou 李教授 Professor Li
Wang Lu Shi 王律师 Lawyer Wang
Zhao Gong Cheng Shi 赵工程师 Engineer Zhao
An address based on educational qualifications is helpful to emphasize the academic authority of the people being addressed:
Chinese Pinyin Chinese The same meaning in English
Yang Bo Shi 杨博士 Dr. Yang
Gao Shuo Shi 高硕士 Master Gao
Ma Xue Shi 马学士 Bachelor Ma
To address based on professions:
Chinese Pinyin Chinese The same meaning in English
Wang Lao Shi 王老师 Teacher Wang
Zhang Yi Sheng 张医生 Docotor Zhang
Liu Jing Guan 刘警官 Officer Liu
Generally, you can call others by their family name or full name by putting the Mr. or Ms. in front. This is the general address most widely used in company, hotels, stores, restaurants, karaoke, bars and other places.
You can use a person's full name or family name when addressing acquaintances, good friends and colleagues, or only the surname proceeded by an informal title which indicates his age:
Chinese Pinyin Chinese Meaning in English Note
Lao Li 老李 Elder Li A person older than yourself
Xiao Wang 小王 Younger Wang A person younger than yourself
Phatic Communion
A smile, good eye contact and politeness are expressions of sincerity. These are the beginning of communication. Just like westerners, the Chinese usually pass the time of day with one another as a precursor to getting to the point of a conversation or presentation.
Different conditions require different styles in which conversational greetings may be exchanged. When you meet someone for the first time, the most commonly-used words are:
Chinese Pinyin Chinese The same meaning in English
Ni Hao 你好 Hello/Hi
Hen Gao Xing Ren Shi Ni 很高兴认识你 Glad to see you. / Nice to meet you.
Xing Hui (more formal ) 幸会 How do you do?
For greeting acquaintances, the words will be more informal and friendly like the following:
Chinese Pinyin Chinese Meaning in English
Hao Jiu Bu Jian 好久不见 Long time no see!
Ni Qi Se Bu Cuo 你气色不错 You look very well today!
Chi Le Ma 吃了吗 Have you had your meal?
Mang Shen Me Ne 忙什么呢？ What are you busying doing these days?
Zui Jin Ru He 最近如何？ How are you doing recently?
Shen Ti Zen Me Yang 身体怎么样？ How are you feeling? / How are you?
Jia Ren Dou Hao Ba 家人都好吧？ How is your family?
Qu Na'er 去那儿啊？ Where are you going?
Shang Ban Qu Ma 上班去吗？ You are going to work?
Jin Tian Feng Hen Da 今天风很大 The wind is so strong today.
Ni Nu Er Zhen Ke Ai 您女儿真可爱 Your daughter is so lovely!
This phatic communion is a salutation without expectation of a response, the question being rhetorical. However, it should be compact, friendly and respectful. It is improper to ask about the personal affairs of other people, for delving into another's privacy is considered to be discourteous. Remember always to be active, passionate, natural and attentive when
Forms of address in Bahasa
Indonesians have a very rich conception of status, age and familiarity being the two main components that constitute their forms of address. A lot of the forms relate to family member names. What I like about this is how it seems to make everyone an insider. Indonesians don't judge on the basis of gender or race or class, but they very much do on the basis of relative location.
Bapak: literally "father" (although the actual word for father is "ayah") now is used to refer to any older man (like 'sir'). Often shortened to pak. The Indonesians love to shorten things.
Ibu: literally "mother" refers to any older woman (Madam, miss, Mrs.). Shortened to Bu.
engkau/ kau/ kamu: "you" among intimate equals, children, juniors, or pupils.
Nona: "miss" very formal. Not used for women past middle age.
Nyonya: "Mrs." formal. For married women.
Tuan: literally "Lord" originally "tuhan" this is a remnant of Dutch colonialism when Indonesians would refer to the Dutch in this manner. It is generally taboo now, except when referring to God.
Saudara: lit "cousin" for Mr. or Miss. This term was pumped by the government for awhile (Indonesian has only been around officially since the 40s) but it never really caught on. It is, however, a staple in Indonesian-English dictionaries. Before I went to Indonesia, I listened to a US government-issued tape for diplomats headed to Indonesia and it was used prolifically. Especially as "saudara-saudara" meaning "ladies and gentlemen."
you: apparently it is common to substitute the nicely neutral English "you" to avoid having to navegate some potentially awkward social situations.
Sdr. Cook: Mr. Cook
kakak: My favorite, because it's what the kids called me. literally "big sister" it gets shortened to "kak" for most people and is used on both older girls and boys.
Lecture III
Let’s now summarize the major differences in Chinese and American English address use as follows:
􀆔 Recently, the trend of many English-speaking people has been to address others by using the first name than
using titles like Mr., Mrs., or Miss even when people meet for the first time. This applies not only to people of
roughly the same age, but also of different ages. It is not a sign of disrespect. However, this is quite counter to
Chinese custom.
􀆔 Kinship terms play an important part in Chinese address system. Age, generation and order of seniority are
regarded as far more important than those in American system.
􀆔 The use of a person’s title, office or occupation is quite common in Chinese address system. But one seldom
hears English speakers addressing others as Bureau Director Smith, Manager Jackson, Principal Morris. In
English, only a few occupations or titles would be used which include Doctor, Judge, Governor, Mayor and professor.

Due to the complexity of Chinese address system, there do exist some problems in finding the English
equivalents of some Chinese terms of address. For instance, how to address a teacher has long been a problem.
Should it be Teacher or Teacher Zhang? Neither of these is in keeping with English custom. Or should we simply
follow the English custom and call the teacher Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Yang, Miss Fei, or just his or her first name? All
of these would sound terrible to Chinese if school-age youngsters were to do so. Should we say Comrade or
Comrade Li? Although terms such as xiansheng and xiaojie can roughly be translated as Mr. or Sir, Miss or Lady,
they carry different connotations. In Chinese, xiansheng and xiaojie are honorific titles, while Sir or Mr. is only a
very common address form. Therefore, American professors or scholars often prefer to be addressed by their
occupational or technical titles such as Professor or Doctor and would be offended if otherwise addressed by Mr..
Prefixes such as lao (Old), xiao (Little) and the suffix lao (Old) are also regarded by Chinese people as showing
friendliness or affection or respect. However, the word “lao” (Old) may make an American extremely unhappy.
Similarly, while the use of xiaojie (Miss) may please a middle-aged American woman, it may really annoy a
Chinese woman. Here again we can see the importance of age, generation and seniority in Chinese address
system. What is considered proper and polite in one language may cause embarrassment or disrespect in another.

Lecture IV

n formal protocol Sir is the correct styling for a knight or a baronet (the UK nobiliary rank just below all peers of the realm), used with (one of) the knight's given name(s) or full name, but not with the surname alone ("Sir James Paul McCartney", "Sir Paul McCartney", or "Sir Paul", but never "Sir McCartney"). The equivalent for a woman is Dame, that is, for one who holds the title in her own right; for such women, the title "Dame" is used as "Sir" for a man, that is, never before the surname on its own. This usage was devised in 1917, derived from the practice, up to the 17th century (and still also in legal proceedings), for the wife of a knight. The wife of a knight or baronet now, however, is styled "Lady [Surname]" (e.g. "Lady McCartney", but never "Lady Linda McCartney", which is reserved for the daughter of a duke, marquess or earl, or now, more recently, for a female member of the Orders of the Garter and the Thistle who possesses no higher title).
In the case of a military officer who is also a knight, the appropriate form of address puts the professional military rank first, then the correct manner of address for the individual, then his name, e.g.,
• Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, KBE (after 1941)[1]
• General Sir Thomas Blamey, KBE (after 1941)[2]
This is also the case with academic titles such as professor:
• Professor Sir Patrick Bateson, FRS
However, the title 'Doctor' is not used in combination with 'Sir': the knighthood takes precedence, and knighted doctors are addressed as knights, though they may still use any postnominal letters associated with their degrees.
With regard to British knighthood, a person who is not a citizen of a Commonwealth realm who receives an honorary knighthood is entitled to use any postnominal letters associated with the knighthood, but not the title "Sir". A similar convention applies to Church of England clergy who receive knighthoods, for example:
• The Reverend Dr John Polkinghorne, KBE, FRS
Clergy in other denominations may use different conventions.
Dual nationals holding a Commonwealth citizenship that recognise the British monarch as head of state are entitled to use the styling. Common usage varies from country to country: for instance, dual Bahamian-American citizen Sidney Poitier, knighted in 1974, is often styled "Sir Sidney Poitier", particularly in connection with his official ambassadorial duties, although he himself rarely employs the title.
Especially in North America, the style "Sir" is frequently employed by knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (female members of that order are styled Lady).
his type of vocative in English and Persian can be classified into four categories: Generic, religious, honorific and occupation bound titles.
Generic titles (GT) include آقا /agha/ and خانم /khanom/ in Persian and M. forms (such as Mr., Miss) also lady, sir and gentleman in English .In Persian these titles proceed FN, LN or FLN. Sometimes they may follow FN. Nevertheless, in English, these M. forms, applicable to anyone, considering age, gender and marital status, are most often used with LN (Gramely and patzold 2003). English enjoys more options in the case of generic tittles. As an illustration of generic terms for addressing women, Mrs. refers to a married woman, Miss refers to a single one and Ms. is used when you do not know the marital status of the addressee. In translation from Persian to English, the translator, being aware of the nuances of meaning among them and regarding the context, age, gender and marital status of the addressee, use CA and will choose the best option.
Both English and Persian have their own specific religious address terms. One way of religious addressing refers to hierarchical ranking of Shia clergymen in Persian language such as آيت الله /Ayatollah/ which is used before the full formal name. Still in English since the religion of the majority is Christian, people use different titles to call the religious individuals. Pope is one of such titles, which cannot stand alone. In both languages, some religious address terms like خواهر /khahar/ (sister) and برادر /bradar / (brother) have different usage. In Persian, interlocutors utilize these terms as a religious way of addressing each other, and according to Keshavarz(1988), their frequent use signifies Islamic post revolutionary attitude and ideology of their users marking solidarity between them. However, in English people use these terms to refer to religious individuals in the church. It should be noted that this type of religious address terms are mainly referential.
In Persian, one particular way of addressing refers to pilgrims of three holy shrines: Mecca, Karbala, and Mashhad. A person who has been to those holy places is referred to as حاجي /haji/ or حاج آقا /hajagha/ for men and حاجيه خانم /hajieh khanom/ for women, كربلايي /karbalaii/ and مشهدی /mashhadi/ for men.
The last case of religious oriented address terms which is specific to Muslims is the use of the titles سيد /seyyed/ (male descendant of Holly Imams) and سيده /seyeedeh/ (female descendant of Holly Imams). These terms can be used in isolation or with FN or FLN. These words are transferred into Persian from Arabic language. Therefore, it is worth noting their translation from Arabic to English in Hatim and Mason (1990) who consider it from a semiotic point of view; however, it is out of the scope of this study.
Each religion has some words and expressions peculiar to itself. It is not easy to find identical terms in another language with different religion. Therefore, these terms need to be transliterated in TL. Sometimes the translator may use a note to explain the meaning of the term and rank of the person. In the case of two words رادر /baradar/ and خواهر /khahar/, their English equivalent brother and sister are used.
Another type of vocative under the category of title terms is occupation- bound terms that are very common in Persian and English language. These titles may be classed as vocational (دكتر /doctor/ (doctor), استاد /ostad/ (master) as ranks in the military or police (امير /Amir/ (general), سرباز /sarbaz/ (private).
In Persian these titles can stand alone or in combination with GT (خانم دكتر /khanom doctor/, آقاي رئيس جمهور /aghaye ra'eis jomhoor/, LN (دكتر محمدي doctor mohammadi, سردار محمدي /sardar Mohammadi/) or both of them آقاي /دكتر احمدي /aghaye doctor Ahmadi/) also they can be combined with GT and FLN ( آقاي مهندس احمد محمدي /aghaye mohandes Ahmad Mohamadi/). Obviously, these title terms would be recursive in Persian; however, in English, they can be used either alone or in combination with LN. Due to the recursion of these terms in Persian language in translation from Persian to English, the translator may translate the main title of that person. In the case of titles in the army or vocational titles, they can be rendered to their equivalents in English. Some of the Persian vocational address terms may not be used as vocative in English, so they can be translated to M. forms.
Mehrotra (1981) points out that the use of honorifics is the common characteristic of most oriental languages. These honorifics carry the idea of politeness, power and solidarity between the interacting people. In order to put more respect and formality into speech, Persian speakers enjoy such address terms. These kinds of titles may be conveyed through job title (JT), FN+LN or GT+FN+ LN.
The English use such words as Madam / sir, Ma'am, Miss, Lady alone or M-forms plus LN. Other terms of honorific refer to the way of addressing officials or royal members. Such honorifics are used in isolation, both in English and Persian.
One of the Persian language characteristics is exaggerating in using honorific terms in order to observe politeness. Such high politeness does not exist in every day use in English. Therefore, in translation from Persian to English these address terms may be deleted or rendered by M-forms. Concerning the translation of address terms referring to the royal members and officials, they can be rendered by their proper near equivalents in English.

5-3. Kinship or Family / Relative Terms
A good number of address terms indicate the family relationships among individuals that may function as a name or title. In both Persian and English, one use these kinship terms (KT) to refer to family members and other relatives. Moreover, one may use such terms to address non –relatives in order to show intimacy or respect. In English, diminutives may also be used. Some kinship terms may combine with name in the manner of title. As Mollanazar (2008) remarks it, some of the relative terms have a wider reference area in Persian than in English. As a result, when translating from Persian to English, the more general word will be used as the equivalent of one of the words noted in the area (Mollanazar, 2008). Since the use of KT for non-relative is not so common in English compared to Persian, they can be translated to M –forms or the same KT, when it does not seem unnatural in the context.

5-4. Terms of Intimacy
Another type of address terms is used to show affection and friendliness among the members of an in-groups, friends, or persons whose wants and personality traits are known and liked for each other. In addition to the aforementioned conditions for using FN and LN in intimate modes, there are other possibilities to address intimate partners. One is to use nicknames that are defined in oxford dictionary as informal often humorous names connected with a person's real name, his / her personality or appearance or with some thing s/he has done. The other possibility of addressing intimate partner is to call them by their abbreviated FN such as / Mamad/ used for Mohammad in Persian. The last common way of addressing in situations where there is a very intimate relationship between the interlocutors is using pet names like عزيزم /azizam/ (My dear) since these intimate terms are used in almost the same situations and have the same functions in both languages, finding appropriate equivalent is not very difficult. The best technique used for the translation of nicknames is literal translation. However, the translation strategies used for pet names depend on the context, and gender of the interlocutors. One may use literal translation or other terms of intimacy with the similar connotative meaning. However, if one wants to adapt the target text to the target culture one will use the similar cultural equivalent with the same connotative meaning familiar to the readers of the receptor language.
It is worth noting that the use of intimate terms may differ regarding the gender of interlocutors and their cultures.

Lecture 101
Mrs.” was most often used by women when married, in conjunction with her husband’s first and last names, e.g. “Mrs. John Smith”. A widow was and still is addressed with the same title as when she was married. "Mrs." was rarely used before a woman's first name, maiden name, or before a hyphenated surname her husband was not using. For example, “Mrs. Jane Miller” (wife of John Smith), "Mrs. Jane Smith" or “Mrs. Jane Miller-Smith” were considered incorrect by many etiquette writers, especially of the early 20th century.[3]
“Mrs.” was often used as a default for all women regardless of marital status, following the custom of some European countries. In several languages the title for married women, such as Madame, Señora, Signora, or Frau, is the direct feminine equivalent of the title used for men; the title for unmarried women is a diminutive: Mademoiselle, Señorita, Signorina or Fräulein. For this reason, usage had shifted towards using the married title as the default for all women in professional usage. This had long been followed in the United Kingdom for some high-ranking household staff, such as housekeepers, cooks, and nannies, who were called “Mrs.” as a mark of respect regardless of marital status. However, the marital-neutral Ms. then became the default title for women professionally and socially in the latter 20th century.
In the United Kingdom the traditional form for a divorcée was “Mrs Jane Smith”. In the U.S., the divorcée originally retained her full married name unless she remarried. Later, the form “Mrs. Miller Smith” was sometimes used, with the birth surname in place of the first name. However, the form “Mrs. Jane Miller” eventually became widely used for divorcées, even in formal correspondence.
Before social mores relaxed to the point where single women with children were socially acceptable, the “unwed mother” was often advised by etiquette mavens like Emily Post to use “Mrs.” with her maiden name to avoid scrutiny.
The separation of “Miss” and “Mrs.” became problematic as more women entered the white-collar workforce. Women who became famous or well known in their professional circles before marriage often kept their birth names, stage names, or noms de plume. ‘Miss’ became the appellation for celebrities (Miss Helen Hayes, Miss Amelia Earhart) but this also proved problematic, as when a married woman did use her husband’s name but was still referred to as ‘Miss’ — see more at Ms. and Miss.
[edit] Modern usage
It is now uncommon for women to use their husband's first name, except when the couple is being addressed jointly, such as in “Mr. and Mrs. Rhett Butler”.
Many married women still utilize the title with their husband's last name, but retaining their first name, "Mrs. Jane Smith," while many have eschewed the title completely in professional life, utilizing "Ms." Any choice of title, first, and last name is considered acceptable both socially and professionally today, and should be honored once it is made known.
Modern etiquette has no absolute rules as how to address married couples in which the wife uses her own last name, or uses a title such as “Dr.” or "Mayor". Etiquette writer Judith Martin (“Miss Manners”) generally advises that in non-standard situations, the individuals be addressed in separate lines on invitations (Dr. Sue Martin / Mr. John Martin).
In direct address, a woman with the title “Mrs.” may be addressed "Mrs. [Lastname], or with the stand alone “Madam” or “Ma’am,” though these are most often used for all adult women regardless of marital status in modern conversation.
[edit] Parody usage
The term “M.R.S. degree” has been used derogatorily to describe the goal of a female student whose reason for attending college appears to be primarily to find a husband rather than to study.[4]
[edit] Foreign equivalents
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2009)

• Afrikaans: Mevrou (Mev.)
• Albanian: Zonjë (Znj.)
• Amharic: ወይዘሮ (Woyzero, Wrz.)
• Arabic: ﺳﻴﺪۃ (Sayyidah)
• Armenian: Տիկին (Tikin)
• Assyrian: Myaqoorta
• Azeri: Xanım
• Belarusian: Спадарыня Spadarynia (read: -nya), Панi (Pani)
• Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian: Gospođa, (Serbian Cyrillic Госпођа) (G-đa or Gđa., Г-ђа or Гђа.)
• Bulgarian: Госпожа (Г-жа G-ja),
• Catalan: Senyora (Sra.)
• Chinese 太太 (Tàitai), 夫人 (Fūren)
• Czech: Paní (Pí.)
• Croatian: Gospođa (Gđa)
• Danish: Fru (Fr.)
• Dutch: Mevrouw (Mevr. or Mw.)
• Esperanto: Sinjorino (S-ino)
• Estonian: Proua (Pr.)
• Finnish: Rouva (Rva)
• Filipino: Ginang (Gng.)
• French: Madame (Mme)
• Galician: Dona (Dna.)
• Georgian: ქალბატონი (K'albatoni)
• German: Frau (Fr.)
• Greek: Κυρία, Kiría , (Κα., Ka.)
• Hebrew: גברת (Gveret)
• Hindi: श्रीमती (Śrīmatī)
• Hungarian: Asszony
• Icelandic: Frú (Fr.)
• Ido: Sioro or Siorino (Sro.; Sr-no.), the former being used both for men or women, and the latter being specific for (usually married) women.
• Indonesian: Nyonya (Ny.)
• Irish: Bean (Bn)
• Italian: Signora (Sig.ra)
• Kurdish: Brajn or Xanm
• Japanese: 夫人 (ふじん) (Fujin)
• Kannada: ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ (Śrīmatī)
• Kazakh: Ханым (Khanym)
• Korean: 부인 (Buin)
• Kotava: weltikya
• Latvian: Kundze
• Lithuanian: Ponia
• Macedonian: Госпоѓа, (Gospogja) (abbreviation: Gga or G-ga; in Cyrilic: Г-ѓа or Гѓа). Used for all married women.
• Malay: Puan
• Malayalam: ശ്രീമതി (Śrīmati)
• Maltese: Sinjura
• Marathi: सौभाग्यवती Saubhāgyavatī (सौ Sau)
• Mongolian: Хатагтай (Hatagtai)
• Norwegian: Fru (Fr.)
• Occitan: Dòna (Da.)
• Oriya: Srimati
• Persian: بانو (Bānu)
• Polish: Pani (P.)
• Portuguese: Senhora (Sra.)
• Punjabi: ਸਰਦਾਰਨੀ (Sardarni) (ਸਦਨ Sdn.)
• Romanian: Doamna (Dna)
• Russian: Госпожа (Gospozha) (Г-жа G-zha)
• Sanskrit: श्रीमती (Śrīmatī)
• Scots Gaelic: Bean (Be.)
• Serbian: Gospodja, Gospođa (Госпођа) (Gdja. Gđa. Гђа.)
• Slovak: Pani (P.)
• Slovenian: Gospa (Ga.)
• Spanish: Señora (Sra.)
• Swedish: Fru (Fr.)
• Tamil: திருமதி (Thirumathi)
• Telugu: శ్రీమతి (Śrīmatī)
• Thai: นาง (Nang)
• Tswana: Mma
• Turkish: Bayan (Byn.), Hanım, Hanımefendi
• Ukrainian: Панi (Pani)
• Urdu: Mohatarma
• Vietnamese: Bà (B.)
• Welsh: Bonesig

Language Planning

Language Planning: Philippine Context

Language planning calls for consultations with the various sectors affected by language policies. For effective implementation, policies should be acceptable to those concerned, otherwise, such policies might only remain in paper.
Based on this premise, the NCCA National Committee on Language and Translation (NCLT) undertook a series of language consultations from 1995 to 1997. These consultations were held in five cities and one municipality representing different regions on the following dates:
Cebu City, August 17-18, 1995
Davao City, Nov. 8-9, 1995
Bacolod City, July 22-23, 1996
Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley, Oct. 1, 1996
Puerto Princesa City, Nov. 18-19, 1996
Zamboanga City, Feb. 4-5, 1997
The series of consultations aimed to: (1) assess the level of language awareness and information in the regions, (2) gauge the attitudes and opinions in the regions regarding the national language and their native tongues, (3) identify the problems encountered in the implementation of language policies, particularly the bilingual education policy and Executive Order No. 335, enjoining all government agencies to use the national language, Filipino, in all official transactions and communications, (4) list down words from the regional languages that can help enrich and further develop the national language, and (5) seek answers to the following questions: (a) is the national language acceptable to the regions? (b) are the following implemented in the regions – the bilingual education policy and EO 335? (c) if not, for what reasons? (d) what are the possible solutions?
The consultations were attended by various sectors: teachers, students, parents, local government officials, mass media practitioners and non-government organizations.
The following are the findings:
Level of language awareness and information in the regions – there is widespread misinformation and misunderstanding of the bilingual education policy. After more than 20 years of implementation of the bilingual education policy, it seems that many, especially school administrators, still do not fully comprehend the spirit of the bilingual education policy. Some schools half-heartedly implement such policy. Many fear that such policy is aimed at the total replacement of English by Filipino. Such fear results in the negative attitude toward Filipino in the cities of Cebu and Bacolod. In these places, those who attended the consultation denounced what they called "imperialist Manila" for ramming down their throats policies that hurt their native pride. However, such negative attitude toward Filipino was encountered only in these two cities, not in Davao, Tuguegarao, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga. It should be noted that Cebu and Bacolod are old rich cities, whereas the others are "melting pots," where residents are settlers from various parts of the country, speaking various major and minor languages.
Attitudes and opinions regarding the national language and their native tongues – Davao, Tuguegarao, Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga have a positive attitude toward Filipino, which serves as lingua franca among residents who speak different native tongues. Cebu and Bacolod, on the other hand, may have exhibited a negative attitude toward Filipino, but it should be made clear that they do not want English or their native languages as the national language; they just do not want to equate language with nationalism.
Problems encountered in the implementation of language policies – Foremost is the lack of accurate information regarding the language policies. On the use of Filipino in government communications, participants in the consultations admitted their lack of competence in the use of written Filipino, lack of references and manuals in writing in Filipino. As medium of instruction, the teachers admitted that they still needed some more training in writing in Filipino and in pronouncing words. They also complained that school administrators still refused to fully implement the bilingual education policy.
Listing of words in regional languages to enrich Filipino – The consultations tried to make the participants aware that the regional languages can further enrich Filipino. The were asked to list down words naming their flora and fauna, customs, etc. for which there are no Tagalog/Filipino equivalents. A good example is bugi (fish roe).
Answers to the following:
Is the national language acceptable in the regions – Except for the cities of Cebu and Bacolod, the answer is yes.
Are the following implemented – bilingual education policy and EO 335 – for the bilingual education policy, yes, except in Cebu because of a restraining order; there are many problems in the implementation of EO 335, like lack of references and manuals, lack of competence, etc.
If not implemented, for what reasons – lack of incentives, lack of vocabulary, lack of information
Any possible solutions – the participants suggested the following: holding seminar-workshops on the use of Filipino as medium of instruction and as medium of official communication; a system of monitoring and follow-up; original writing and translation of important documents from English to Filipino; research on indigenous names of things so as to preserve their local names for the next generation to maintain awareness of their native cultures; a dictionary with accompanying pronunciation that will help those from the regions to pronounce words correctly; and massive information campaign to instill language awareness and inculcate pride in the regional languages and in Filipino.

Immature - A Song Composed by Dan Delos Santos Mandia

Immature
Tune and Lyrics by: Dan Delos Santos Mandia

Hear these beats from my heart
Speaking of a wordless start.
Now I am afraid to colligate
Hope, joy, love and hate

Let the pearl eyes of yours blink
Blink to a horizon which my heart’ll sink
Remold my whole spirit to begin craving
Craving for your love and acceptance

Refrain

Oh I think I’m losing all control
Telling you the ways how I love you
And oh, I don’t wanna live this day

Chorus

Mercy on me my darling
I love the way you have loved me too
I couldn’t deny I ain’t mature to enter to
A relationship that captures my whole life through

For those childish days that I have had
Relates me tom my recent experiences
But I couldn’t deny I still have chance
To regain the love I’ve felt before for you

Repeat Refrain and Chorus 2x

A Poem by Dan Delos Santos Mandia

Bare Glorious Wake
by: Dan Delos Santos Mandia

In this place where
I am is a place where I’ll always be,
Surrounded by black flowers blooming,
Teased by a bee.
This is a jail in wilderness
Where birds don’t sing,
This is a place of no lovers,
A place of a misery thing.

I have never seen the sky
but I know what a star is,
I have never jumped to the sea
but I know how to swim.
I haven’t loved someone
yet I know how Cupid strike every lover,
I haven’t drunk any fluid
but my thirst was quenched.

There’s a wall that hinders me
from the North to the East,
There’s a net that traps me
from the South to the West.
This is a place of emptiness
where you can hear screaming,
This is a place of sorrow,
a place of no dreaming.





I haven’t been to seashore
but I know
how the waves roar,
I have never been to sorrow
yet I know loner’s feelings.
I haven’t stricken by a sword
yet I have felt wounded,
I haven’t cried for sometime
yet my tears fall at once.

Water in this place
screeches an awful song,
Blows of thin air
exhilarate me to a glorious tomb.
This is a tryst of confusions
where you can see all wrong,
A place of bomb of happiness: a place of happiness bomb.

The Uniqo Hijo - Short Story

UNIQO HIJO
It was raining very hard. Streets are definitely bare. The radical dark, is totally invading the entire surroundings. Except from very drop of rain striking the ground the concretes pavement-, nothing could be heard. The rain is definitely outpouring from heaven. Every the drop of the cold rain strikes Ando’s face, shoulders, back, body as he slowly traces his way home. Strength enormously diminishes and with shoulders very droopy, he is chilling as the night breeze gently blows in his wet body. His strength is totally occupied by perforated feeling of ague.
As he behind handedly walks home at the blurred-rainy avenue. Ando is tightly clinging to the cloister of his very busy but a little-bit petulant and gloomy yesterday. He has very vast muster of highly-technologies gadgets. It is not impossible for him to have the latest editions of the lap top computers, recently released model of PSP’s, hyper programmed cellular phones for his father is a high-salaried engineer and his mother is a leveled chief nurse. It seems that all Ando wants is just at his very grasp.




Ando is amply tall youngster and of pleasant disposition. He has a very brilliant face with an excellent body contour for a graduating university student. His eyes are deeply brilliant and stress relinquishing. His hair is very dark and fairly cut.
A few meters near to his home, he notices that the house is in full blast. Their car is quietly resting in their spacious garage. His pet dog, Genie, is pleasantly breaking at their balcony.

“Urf, urf, urf, uurff!” the dog barked joyously.
“Oh my juvenile dog,” Ando said her cleanly “how are you, huh?” he interrogated. The dog jumped joyously, waggled its tail subtlety and interring in the balcony.
As Ando walks in with delight, he saw his mama and papa watching news broadcast.
“Good evening! Ma, Pa,” he greeted loudly. His father exclaimed commendably.
“Oh, yes Pa!” Ando replied gently.
“It’s very late in the evening. Look, Ando! It’s extremely dark outside”, his mother said exasperatedly.
“I’m sorry Ma, Pa. I have just plenty of works to do at school,” Ando elaborately explained.
“Oh right, there you are, change your clothes immediately and we’ll wait for you at the dining room,” his mothe r said opaquely
For twenty years of Ando’s life, that’s the way how’s his mother treat him. At times he would be put to shame by his mother in conspicuous place most especially. Every time he tries to explain his side, his mom would reject it right away. As if there is no ample space for the explanation of his side. There is no space for all his explanations. His father sometimes would understand him but most of the time his father isn’t home. His parents are very busy for their jobs striving to be more and more financially stable. After dinner, Ando went to his room in a hurry. He left the dining room immediately because he knows that Manang Puring is there to fix all the mess in the dining. In his room, he is working for his thesis.
Ando is working on his thesis painstakingly. He keenly browses the MS WORD document of his thesis page by page.
He checks the typographical error he has made. He often edits the tabulation he had made for the demographic study he is conducting. But there is one thing that keeps him unease. He couldn’t concentrate well. There is an abstract and devastative disruption on his mind that irritates him. It curse like white frisky worms in his flesh allowing him to be fiery and disturbed. He keeps on editing his research manuscript. Nevertheless, he couldn’t describe what that particular thing that interrupts him. That is in his biographical sketch in his research manuscript.


It is still raining hard outside. His dog, Genie, keeps on barking outside Ando could clearly hear it from his room. Ando is still disturbed and irritated. Something is skeptical and doubtful. He is interpellating himself with a question he, himself, could not answer.
There is a voice gently whispering into Ando’s heart to remain skeptical.
Ando is still working on his research completing and recalculating the result of his research statistical review. He could clearly hear the loud barks of his pet dog outside. It is now barking very loud as if it is surprised or hit by something or has an enemy.
Ando is still badly irritated but he has no options – he must continue to work. He must complete the statistical computation of his study. He checks all his computations. He recomputed it. He patiently solve one by one and bit by bit.
When he was nearly to complete his computation, he checked first his cellular phone. Seeing that there is no single text or anything, he returned to his work. After finalizing the method by a calculator he immediately saved the document.
Ando still awake and uneasy, he doesn’t feel any force to go to sleep. He opened and browse a social networking website. He was extremely amazed and shocked that somebody commented on his profile. It was a beautiful woman at her middle forties. He zooms the picture. He could easily distinguish that the woman in the picture is a dentist. But he and the woman have several resemblances. Ando was dumbfounded. His nose and that of the woman is by those same.



Shocked by those comments, Ando tried to check the woman’s profile. He was extremely astonished when he saw series of pictures in the woman’s photo album. A picture absolutely strikes an Ando’s whole attention.
It was he when he is 4 months old. He was a baby then with the women holding him. He had already seemed that picture when he still a child yet he couldn’t remember if where that was. He knows that picture is just scanned from a hard copy because of its appearance. He wonders why that picture was in that woman’s profile. Who was she? What was her connection with Ando?
Being mesmerized by the happening, Ando tries to recall if where that photo album is where he had seemed the picture. He left his room, went to the sala and look for that album it wasn’t there. He went to the cabinet in their stockroom; disarrange all the bookshelves of his father but it wasn’t there. It is already one o’clock in the morning but he couldn’t sleep as if something make him bothers - it is the picture.
He scans and scans all the documents inside their stockroom but no single photo album was found.
He immediately ran into their basement.
He opened immediately the light.
It was not that bright.
The basement is very messy.

There he sedulously looks for the album because he strongly believes that the basement is the only place he could search in. he scan all the ill-smelling old books and boxes. He is perspiring that soakly much until a box caught his attention. He immediately opened the box. Coach roaches amazed his sight. It was full of books and folders. He inspected it one by one. Until, he comes finally to the very bottom of the box. That’s the album left unopened 16 years ago. He scanned the album. It smells with the cockroaches’ eggs and opacities. All pictures are still very comprehensible in that album. And he found the picture he is looking. It was really the same picture. He got it and brought it to his room.
In a bright light in his room, Ando cross-examined the two photographs. The two photographs are really identical. But, he couldn’t identify if who if the woman with him in the picture. It wasn’t his mother. At the back of the picture he is holding a name is legibly printed.
EDITH R. CASTRO DMD
That was a professional name - a dentist. The woman on the picture with him is a dentist - A very dentist by her profession.
But, who is that woman?
Ando continuously scanned the woman’s profile and wall. He couldn’t find a single hint as to that woman’s identity. He remained irritated and unease of what he has found. He very and definitely skeptical that time. He wants to intoxicate the white worms creeping in his flesh, in his heart up to his brain. He continued to scan at this time his profile, he come to read the recent notifications. It was legibly printed.
HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY MY UNIQO HIJO!
He wondered why the woman commented on his profile that way. And, it was not just an ordinary greeting; it was not just a normal way of greeting a friend, a kin or whatever. Uniqo Hijo. What does it mean? But he has a mother for twenty years.
But he doubted, all his life, everything wasn’t clear. Everything was vague about his reputation. He cried. There is a strong conviction in his heart. There is a voice that insistently whispers that he woman in the picture is his mother. Yes! They have a strong connection. Ando cried enormously. He cried. He wanted to revenge. To whom?
But he doesn’t know. He was just tossed by the wave for years. He slept in tears! Huhuhuhuhu!