Question about usage of names and social convention

[Paul B. Gallagher]

greniers at GEORGETOWN.EDU wrote:

> Sarah Hurst wrote:
> 
> I think it's also considered rude in English to say "he" or "she"
> instead of the person's name in the presence of the person, so I'm
> guessing your book refers to the first example, where someone
> addresses a second person by their name. It seems to me this is done
> more commonly in Russian than in English, especially when a
> patronymic is involved for further emphasis of politeness.
> 
> Sarah
> 
> 
> I hear my American students routinely referring to their classmates
> as "he" or "she" in the particular classmate's presence--and I
> routinely explain to them that it is not considered polite in
> Russian; in response, some of the students say, "yeah, it is not too
> polite in English either,"--from all of which I gather that the rule
> against saying "he" or "she" about a person who is present must be
> much stronger in Russian than in English.  So I would say that this
> rule is what the book was referring to.
> 
> In addition, I have not noticed that Russians address their
> interlocutor by name more often than Americans do.  In fact, I
> remember someone--perhaps Jon Stewart--analyzing Sarah Palin's
> interview style and showing how she kept saying "Charlie" to the
> reporter, so it must be a question of individual differences in the
> US.  What do other SEELANGers think?

For my money, use of the name is more common and more of a big deal in 
Russian; here in America I wouldn't take offense if someone referred to 
me with a pronoun in my presence. Though of course if they went out of 
their way to make it a big deal, as when McCain called Obama "that one" 
in a debate, that would be a different story.

I'm inclined to think Palin was just trying to make sure she remembered 
the interviewer's name by repeating it; I do the same thing when I meet 
a voter for the first time. After three or four repetitions, it seems to 
stick. And it has the added benefit -- if you don't overdo it -- that 
the recipient of this treatment believes you consider them important and 
respect them.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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