How names are called in America
People generally call each other by their first names much sooner in their acquaintance than people do in other walks of life.Taking that liberty too soon has closed many doors for the offender.Therefore,one must sense the proper moment to drop formal address and adopt subtle measures to prevent unwelcome intimate address.If you have been accepted wholeheartedly into a group,however important first names are in the world's eyes,it would be conspicuous1) for you to continue beyond a certain time to call them by their last names,such as Mr.Robinson and Mrs.Harvin.
If an older woman enjoys having young people call her first name,she will ask you to do so--otherwise don't.In the business circle,many people think it demeaning to be called by the first name,it is best to use ‘Mr.’‘Miss’ with a business superior or an employer.
A divorcee can ask the courts for her maiden name2) if there are no children.But usually the woman of taste,with or without children,takes after divorce her maiden name with the divorced husband's name.The remarried divorcee with children does not incorporate3) her divorced husband's name in her new one.The children retain their real father's name,unless by legal adoption they take the name of the mother's new husband.
Husband and wife call each other “Mr.” and “Mrs.”when speaking to people who are not their equals.To acquaintances they call each other “my husband” and “my wife”.To friends,they refer to each other their first names.
Army officers are called by their titles in speech.Catholic priests are called “Father”.A senator4) is customarily called “Senator” all of his life.A congressman5) is called “Mr.” both in and out of office.An ambassad6) or is called “Mr.Ambassador”.
稱 謂 在 美 國(guó)
在熟人圈中,人們通常很快就會(huì)彼此直呼大名,比在其他的人群中要快得多。過快地不分你我會(huì)使許多人不高興與你交往。故此,何時(shí)應(yīng)撇開正式稱呼,何時(shí)應(yīng)避免不受歡迎的親密稱呼,就得審時(shí)度勢(shì),選擇時(shí)機(jī)。如果你被真誠(chéng)地納入一個(gè)圈子中,不管直呼其名在世人眼中如何重要,對(duì)你來說,顯然在剛接觸的一段時(shí)間內(nèi),仍要稱呼人家的姓氏,如魯賓遜先生和哈文太太。
如果一位老婦人喜歡年輕人叫她的名字,她會(huì)告訴你這樣做。否則,不可。在商業(yè)圈里,許多人認(rèn)為直呼其名有失身分。所以,對(duì)上司或雇主最好稱“先生”或“小姐”。
離婚的女性如無子女,她可以要求法庭恢復(fù)其娘家姓。但是有風(fēng)范的女子,不管有無子女,離婚后用娘家姓,但要加上前夫之姓。有了孩子的再婚婦女不再用前夫的姓,而用新丈夫的姓。但是孩子仍隨親生父親之姓,除非通過合法的收養(yǎng)手續(xù),孩子可以隨繼父之姓。
夫妻在生人面前互稱“先生”和“太太”。對(duì)熟人,他們互稱“我丈夫”和“我太太”。對(duì)朋友,他們喜歡彼此直呼其名。
同軍官講話時(shí),人們以其軍銜稱謂。天主教的牧師被稱作“神父”??偨y(tǒng)被稱作“總統(tǒng)先生”。參議員習(xí)慣上終生被稱作“參議員”。眾議員無論在位與否均被稱作“先生”。大使的稱謂為“大使先生”。
NOTE 注釋:
1. conspicuous [kEn5spIkjJEs] adj. 顯著的;顯而易見的
2. one's maiden name 女子的娘家姓
3. incorporate [in5kC:pEreit] vt. 合并
4. senator [5senEtE] n. 參議員
5. congressman [5kRN^resmEn] n. 眾議院議員
6. ambassador [Am5bAsEdE] n. 大使