honorific

An honorific is a word or expression that conveys esteem or respect and is used in addressing or referring to a person. "Honorific" may refer broadly to the style of language or particular words used, or, as in this article, to specific words used to convey honor to one perceived as a social superior. Sometimes the term is used not quite correctly to refer to a title of honor (honorary title).

Honorifics are usually placed immediately before or after the name of the subject. The most common honorifics, available to any adult, are "Mr.", "Mrs." and "Ms." They may also be used to denote occupation, such as "Doctor", "Coach", "Father" (for a priest), or "Professor". Some honorifics can act as complete replacements for a name, as in "sir" or "ma'am". 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."

Honorifics in various languages and cultures

English honorifics are usually limited to formal situations, or when children address adults.

Chinese honorifics during the ancient and imperial periods varied greatly based on one's social status, but after 1920, most of these distinctions had dropped out of colloquial use.

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".

Vietnamese honorifics are very similar to Japanese honorifics in their use. Like its Japanese counterparts, Vietnamese honorifics function on hierarchy of social and familial status. And, again similarly, both systems have several terms for "I" and "you". However, there is a striking difference between the Vietnamese honorific system and other systems, in addressing certain family members: For example, suppose your first cousin once removed (son or daughter of your cousin) is older than you. Despite being of greater age, your first cousin once removed would (formally) have to address you as "Anh (your first name)" or just "anh", if the addressed is male, and "Chi (your name)" or just "chi", if the addressed is female. Both terms on their own mean "my elder". Such a situation is an example of how hierarchy in the family takes precedence even over age.

Korean honorifics vary according to social distinction. The Korean language also distinguishes social differences with special noun and verb endings. The relationship between a speaker or writer and his or her subject and audience is paramount in Korean, and the grammar reflects this. The relationship between speaker/writer and subject is reflected in honorifics, while that between speaker/writer and audience is reflected in speech level.

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.

In Ancient Rome, Roman honorifics like Augustus turned into titles over time.

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. 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".

The traditional Hindi honorific is the suffix -ji. For example M.K. Gandhi (The Mahatma) was oftentimes referred to as Gandhi-ji.

The traditional Telugu honorific is the suffix Garu. Thus the Dalai Lama would be Dalai Lama Garu.

Italian honorifics are usually limited to formal situations.

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.

Filipino Honorifics are integral to Filipino Culture, and have evolved from Chinese honorifics system. Some of the terms used in this honorifics system are: "kuya" ("elder brother"), for older male siblings, older male cousins, or anyone older and of the same generation/ level of the speaker; "áte" ("elder sister"), which functions in the same manner as kúya, albeit for female addressees; the use of "kayò" (plural "you"), "ninyò" (plural "yours") when addressing superiors and elders. The most important words are "po" and "ópo", with its derivatives "hô" (usually more along the lines of "Pardon?"; usually spoken in a coarse manner) and "óho", all of which are used in the place of "yes" as a response to an imperative statement or question by a social superior, or inserted before the noun indicative of the superior addressee in a statement.

Opposition

People who have a strong sense of egalitarianism, such as Quakers and certain socialists, eschew honorifics. When addressing or referring to someone, they will use the person's name, an informal pronoun, or some other style implying social equality, such as "brother", "friend", or "comrade".

See also

• Honorifics in Judaism
• Islamic honorifics
• Canadian honorifics
• Use of courtesy titles and honorifics in professional writing
• Style (manner of address)
• T-V distinction
• The Honourable

Donate to Wikimedia