Thank you Sofia for such an insightful, kind and heartwarming writing. It was like a lovely cup of coffee with a lot of flavours and depth. When I was invited to afternoon tea by Iranian friends, when I was completing my second degree in Scotland, they offered me a variety of candied fruits. They were colourful and amazingly beautiful!
I know, I thought of it too. And then I recalled an interaction three years ago with a PhD student, fello pragmatician and ex student of yours from Athens, who addressed me as Sofia. In the course of the conversation she realised that I must be at least twenty-five years older than her, and exclaimed "You don't look your age! If I'd known, I would never have used your first name!" Does the convention of age/status difference still apply in Greek settings? Terms of address is a topic I will return in more detail in a future post. Thank you for the permission to use your first name!
I'm not sure what applies in Greek settings in general because it varies. I've heard people complaining of shop assistants using singular to older people, but I also think it has to do with how satisfactory the whole encounter was. At the university formality is still dominant and last names are used to professors who usually use the students' first names, even at postgraduate level. When I first started teaching at the university I told students they could call me either by my first or last name but nobody "dared" use my first name. Some of my Ph.D. students find it difficult to use my first name even after graduation. A friend /colleague who works in London was telling me once that when non-Greek students call her by her first name sounds fine but when Greeks (probably in Greek) do the same it sounds odd!! Very interesting and complicated issue and there is a lot of recent research on it.
Yes, you are right about Greek settings in general; I meant in higher education settings as you describe it. Interestingly, the situation in Iran seems to be very similar, where shop assistants, taxi drivers and the like will use the singular pronoun to address people in general, whereas in the university there is absolutely no way that any student, even a PhD student, will ever address a professor by their first name. Interestingly, academic colleagues generally address each other by title and surname, or if close with surname and "dear". There is so much to write about terms of address, I am tempted to do so next month. It is a fascinating topic! Thank you for enhancing the post by adding your experience!
It is indeed a fascinating topic. Among colleagues here, at least in the English department, reciprocal first name address is the norm with title+LN being the rare exception. Interestingly, title+LN some times occurs in departmental meetings where third person address may also be used as in "Would title+LN like to explain ...?" indicating the importance of setting. This is not a strict rule and to my mind indicates distancing from the person and their views, too.
Dear Sophia, Thank you so much for your kind postcard! (One of my favourite genres ever.) It was really great to cast my mind back all these years. Let me assure you that I have learnt as much from you as I may have ever taught you. Let's say it was a voyage of discovery for both of us. Let's hope we can catch up in person some time soon. Best regards, Adam
Dear Adam, I love postcards too, and I am sorry I never get to send any nowadays! Thank you for your kind comments. I also hope that we will meet up soon! Best wishes, as always, Sofia
A brilliant piece of writing.I am delighted to read that.
PS Great to see you here, Maria! Very much looking forward to catching up with you in due course as well!
Thank you Sofia for such an insightful, kind and heartwarming writing. It was like a lovely cup of coffee with a lot of flavours and depth. When I was invited to afternoon tea by Iranian friends, when I was completing my second degree in Scotland, they offered me a variety of candied fruits. They were colourful and amazingly beautiful!
Hello Jun, and thank you for reading and for your kind comments. I am pleased to be in touch again!
Very interesting and engaging piece, Sofia. Congratulations!!
Thank you, Professor Sifianou!
Professor Sifianou but Adam!! Very interesting!!! Mary or Maria is fine here, too!!
I know, I thought of it too. And then I recalled an interaction three years ago with a PhD student, fello pragmatician and ex student of yours from Athens, who addressed me as Sofia. In the course of the conversation she realised that I must be at least twenty-five years older than her, and exclaimed "You don't look your age! If I'd known, I would never have used your first name!" Does the convention of age/status difference still apply in Greek settings? Terms of address is a topic I will return in more detail in a future post. Thank you for the permission to use your first name!
I'm not sure what applies in Greek settings in general because it varies. I've heard people complaining of shop assistants using singular to older people, but I also think it has to do with how satisfactory the whole encounter was. At the university formality is still dominant and last names are used to professors who usually use the students' first names, even at postgraduate level. When I first started teaching at the university I told students they could call me either by my first or last name but nobody "dared" use my first name. Some of my Ph.D. students find it difficult to use my first name even after graduation. A friend /colleague who works in London was telling me once that when non-Greek students call her by her first name sounds fine but when Greeks (probably in Greek) do the same it sounds odd!! Very interesting and complicated issue and there is a lot of recent research on it.
Yes, you are right about Greek settings in general; I meant in higher education settings as you describe it. Interestingly, the situation in Iran seems to be very similar, where shop assistants, taxi drivers and the like will use the singular pronoun to address people in general, whereas in the university there is absolutely no way that any student, even a PhD student, will ever address a professor by their first name. Interestingly, academic colleagues generally address each other by title and surname, or if close with surname and "dear". There is so much to write about terms of address, I am tempted to do so next month. It is a fascinating topic! Thank you for enhancing the post by adding your experience!
It is indeed a fascinating topic. Among colleagues here, at least in the English department, reciprocal first name address is the norm with title+LN being the rare exception. Interestingly, title+LN some times occurs in departmental meetings where third person address may also be used as in "Would title+LN like to explain ...?" indicating the importance of setting. This is not a strict rule and to my mind indicates distancing from the person and their views, too.
Dear Sophia, Thank you so much for your kind postcard! (One of my favourite genres ever.) It was really great to cast my mind back all these years. Let me assure you that I have learnt as much from you as I may have ever taught you. Let's say it was a voyage of discovery for both of us. Let's hope we can catch up in person some time soon. Best regards, Adam
Dear Adam, I love postcards too, and I am sorry I never get to send any nowadays! Thank you for your kind comments. I also hope that we will meet up soon! Best wishes, as always, Sofia
Thank you for your comment, Natasha. We are after all neighbours in the Balkans!