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Chapter One Definition and Classification of Address Terms

1.1 Definition
Though address terms are the kick-off opening in verbal communication, it is not aneasy task to give address term a thorough and precise definition because of itsmany-faceted nature. Therefore, different versions of definition are given.“Terms of address, defined loosely as words used in a speech event that refer to theaddressee of that speech event, can be extremely important conveyors of socialinformation.” (Parkinson 1985:1)“Address forms are the words speakers use to designate the person they are talking towhile they are talking to them.” (Fasold 1990:1)“An address term is a numerically and attitudinally-marked designator which (a)functions as a particle to pronominal ‘you’ to form a notionally paradigmatic phrasal‘you’; (b) consists of names, words, or a combination of both; (c) is used for thebenefit of a speaker; addressee, or a third-party hearer either optionally or necessarilyfor grammatical, practical, social, emotional, or externally-imposed reasons.”(Dunkling 1990: 22)“Address term as terms people get because of their status, professions as well as kinrelationship or other relationships, such as ‘Fuqin 父亲’ (father), ‘Shifu 师傅’ (master)and ‘Changzhang 厂长’ (head of a factory), etc”. (《现代汉语词典》1998:157)“The system of address terms, in a broad sense, includes terms for all human beings,animals and objects; in a narrow sense, it only includes terms for human being.” (田惠刚 1998)The acknowledged father of Chinese linguistics, Chao Yuenren divided address termsinto vocatives and designatives. Vocatives are terms that are used to address a persondirectly, while designatives are those that one uses to mention the person beingaddressed. For example, in North China, a man would address his wife by her firstname (FN), “Laopo 老婆”(wife), and also “Hai Zi Ta Ma 孩子他妈”(mother of thechild). While the first two are direct addressing, belonging to vocative, the third onebelongs to designative, indirectly addressing his wife from the point view of his child.This is acceptable form of addressing in China, whereas for English-speakingcountries such addressing would be nothing than odd. If a Mrs. Brown addresses Mr.Brown “Hey, Joan’s Dad”, her husband would think that naughty Joan must havemessed up with something that irritates her mom.

1.2 Classification
Similarly, classifications given by scholars vary from each other. However, in a broadsense, it is agreed universally that address terms, can be divided primarily into twocategories – kinship terms and the terms used to indicate social relationships otherthan kinship (also “social appellations”).Kinship terms, (also “kinship terminologies”) include “the terms of address used indifferent languages or communities for different relatives and the terms of referenceused to identify the relationship of these relatives to ego or to each other” (Wikipedia).Linguists have observed kinship address terms and social address terms separately,and the latter is the focus of this thesis, which can be further divided into thefollowing sub-categories.TermsPopular address terms, also as “common address terms”, refer to words or phrases thatcan be applied to any member belonging to a same society regardless of professions,posts and ranks, or even ages. They are characterized by popularized application incommunication.In Chinese, the most preferred popular addre本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。