Different forms of addressing parents

Question

In my language there is an older form in which you use kinship term in the middle of a sentence, in which normally you would use "you". Here's how this would look translated to English

Normal -> "Dad, why do you think it's a bad idea?" (second person)

Older form -> "Why does Dad think it's a bad idea?" (third person)

They both mean the same thing in my native language. My question is, does the second form actually exist in English as a form to refer to your dad while talking with him?

John Warlow · Answer

You could use the second form when talking to your dad if you were being sarcastic or meaning it in another humorous way, but only if your tone indicated humour and was understood by your dad.

Without that understanding it would most likely come across as rude and patronising. In normal conversations you would always use the first form.

Different forms of addressing parents

One Answer

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question