English vs. Russian: greeting strangers (and names somewhat)

[Genevra Gerhart]

I was considering Babul' for Devushka when I got this answer from my
Russian:

Молодой человек is still being used for a young man, although the age can
vary: but usually those who are older are not called молодой человек - i.e.
Will Ryan's example is not typical. Девушка is about the same: she is
supposed to be young or, at least, younger. Женщина and мужчина are
frequently used, although educated people try not to use it. If not девушка,
молодой человек, people usually try to avoid addressing directly, but
instead use "извините, ..." - similar to what people do here "excuse me,
..." =Oleg=

Genevra Gerhart
 
ggerhart at comcast.net
 
www.genevragerhart.com
www.russiancommonknowledge.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of William Ryan
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:25 AM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] English vs. Russian: greeting strangers (and names
somewhat)

John Dunn mentions "those for whom молодой человек or девушка [devushka] are
no longer appropriate". I am not sure what age one has to reach for such
forms to be thought inappropriate. Last September I, an aged white-bearded
and bespectacled pensioner, was peering too closely at an exhibit in the
Historical Museum in Moscow when a woman attendant half my age addressed me
quite sharply as "молодой человек". From this I have to assume that the
expression is now a general purpose address to any unknown male, like
"Jimmy" in Scotland.

Will Ryan 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------