029_Honorifics

029_Honorifics

Ryoko is getting ready to study art history in the United States. She’s a little worried about how to address her professors and Nichibei instructor Arthur Stanley tell her about honorifics and how to use them.

Kevin:

Hello everyone and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting, A great way to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. I’m here today with Nichibei student Ryoko. Hello Ryoko.

Ryoko:

Hi Kevin.

Kevin:

And also with us is Nichibei instructor Arthur Stanley. How’re you doing Arthur?

Arthur Stanley:

Very well thank you.

Kevin:

Ryoko You’re in the Academic English Course at Nichibei. Could you tell us something about the AEC program.

Ryoko:

Sure, The Academic English Course is a three week program to prepare students who are going to enter overseas universities or English based university programs here in Japan.

Kevin:

And how about yourself, what country are you going to?

Ryoko:

I’m going to Princeton University in (the) US for a masters degree in art history.

Kevin:

That sounds great! Congratulations.

Ryoko:

Thanks.

Kevin:

Princeton has a fantastic art history department and faculty there is highly qualified.

Ryoko:

Well, actually, that’s exactly what I wanted to talk about.

Kevin:

You mean, the faculty or teaching staff?

Ryoko:

Yeah, I’m (a) little nervous about talking with the Faculty in English. I’m really not sure how to address them.

Kevin:

Arthur, what’s your opinion on this?

Arthur Stanley:

Well Ryoko, what I think you’re talking about is honorifics.

Ryoko:

Sorry? What is an honorific.

Arthur Stanley:

An honorific is a word or expression that shows respect and is used in addressing or referring to a person.

Ryoko:

You mean like how “さん”　is used in Japanese?

Arthur Stanley:

Yes, that’s an honorific. An honorific can be used for occupations, such as “Doctor”, “Coach”, “Father” (for a priest), or “Professor”. Some honorifics can act as complete replacements for a name, as in “sir” or “ma’am”.

Ryoko:

Ok. I guess my quesiton is, should I use the honorific “professor” when I am talking to the teachers at Princeton University?

Arthur Stanley:

Well these days education is much more informal than in the past. So many instructors ask to be addressed by their first names.

While others prefer to be addressed as Professor or Doctor.

Ryoko:That’s a little confusing. How am I going to know which to use?

Arthur Stanley:

My simple answer is to use the honorific at first. If your teacher wants you to use their first name, I’m sure they”ll let you know.

By the way, who is the head of the art department at Princeton?

Ryoko:

The department chair is Patricia Brown.

Arthur Stanley:

So you should definitly address her as Professor Brown until she decides to change to a first name basis.

Ryoko:

OK. Good advice. What else can you tell me about honorifics.

Arthur Stanley:

Well, for religious leaders, always use honorifics.

Ryoko:

Such as

Arthur Stanley:

Such as, Father or a Catholic priest or Reverend for a Protestant minister or Rabbi for Jewish leader. Oh, and you should always use honorifics for elected officials.

Ryoko:

What do you mean by elected officials?

Arthur Stanley:

Government officials, such as the honorific Governor for Shintaro Ishihara, or Mr. President for George W. Bush or Mayor for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Ryoko:

I don’t think I’ll be using any of those honorifics!

Arthur Stanley:

You never know Ryoko! Try this…It’s an honor to meet you Mr. President!

Ryoko:

It’s (an) honor to meet you Mr. President.

Arthur Stanley:

Very good.

Ryoko:

Ok, thanks for your help.

Arthur Stanley:

My pleasure. And good luck at Princeton.

Kevin:

Now, let’s review the vocabulary for this episode. Honorific. An honorific is a word or expression that shows respect and is used in addressing or referring to a person. Professor Brown, Doctor Brown , Mr. President. Governor Schwarzenneger. Honorifics.

END