Terms and Names

[Guest guest]

Terms to Define Folks from Latino America, Names that Follow.

Response to my question (Apr 18) emphasized the use of Tu and Usted. Thanks

to Kathy for introducing " tu " and " usted " and her comment on names, and

Ana, Abdoni and Mike for further comments, and Larry for the caution about

" folks. " A ver, ¿de qué parte del pais está escribiendo Vos?

I grew up in the South but spent most of my adult years outside the South.

When I return to the South (several years at a stretch, several days at a

stretch), I find myself using " Maam " and " Sir " more than other places in

the country, and having myself called " sir " more often. Shifts in use of

first name and last name also change. Age makes little difference either

direction, except the very young. I hear " Aunt June " and " Uncle Eddie, "

similar to the " aunts " and " uncles " I had when I was young and the way

children in our neighborhood called my parents. Background, at least where

I grew up, made little difference in having fictive kin. In Lower South,

I'm steady holding back on using Don and Dona [say Donya] in Spanish,

because neither is used as much as other places where I've lived.

I notice these things change when I live in or travel to other parts of the

country. I recognize that men and women who perform farm labor travel much

more than I do. I thought my question might help us reflect on the subtle

ways that we address and refer to people. As an addendum to the discussion

of how we perceive and define others, as well as ourselves.

V Bletzer. Currently in AZ (Arizona State University).