Ahmed_harbi
Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2012
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Arabic
- Home Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Current Location
- Saudi Arabia
For an unmarried lady in her early thirties can we say mam in a formal situation Or Ms?
Unless I were a shop assistant being rather formal, or working in a hotel, I would never use 'Madam' or 'Miss' to any woman. I'd use their name, if I knew it, or nothing at all, if I didn't know it,For an unmarried lady in her early thirties can we say mam in a formal situation Or Ms?
I personally have never heard anyone say 'mam' or 'ma'am' in the UK.
I'd just say, "Excuse me".What do you say if you are walking down the street and the lady in front of you drops something from her pocket and she doesn't notice?
It's one of the very few things about AmE that jars with me.I think you'll hear "excuse me, ma'am" and "excuse me, sir" much more often in the US.
Native English speakers may find it interesting to learn that the issue of Madam, Sir, Mr, Ms etc. is of extreme importance and is also a very sensitive matter in Polish (as I suppose it is in most continental European languages). Same thing with the use of "uncle", "aunt" as opposed to just first name. Dropping "uncle" or "Mr" may in some situations be considered as downright rude or forward. People will sometimes use "Mr/Ms" even if they have known each other for many years, as they probably enjoy both "giving" and "receiving" a kind of deference which "Mr/Ms" convey. The ceremony is stood upon with particular scrupulosity among "working class" since (to my mind) its members want to safeguard the not so long ago gained social status of equal citizenship. There is a whole culture or code of behaviour built around "Mr/Ms" issue to determine for example who is supposed to suggest using first name terms between two people. Typically even when such a suggestion is made, people will still occasionally address each other as "Mr/Ms" because they find the trasition embarassing and/or difficult. Learners of English who come from "Mr/Ms" environment in their native languages may be shocked to see how these forms are treated in English.
It's one of the very few things about AmE that jars with me.
It's odd, because I accept with no problem the Italian, French, Czech, etc equivalent of 'sir'when addressed by strangers who speak those languages, and I use the polite form of address when I speak to strangers in those languages.
It's possibly because, in BrE, 'sir' and 'miss/madam/ma'am' are normally used only by an inferior/junior to a superior/senior, and then only in a limited range of situations. I use those words to nobody, and do not want them used to me.
What do you say if you are walking down the street and the lady in front of you drops something from her pocket and she doesn't notice?
"Excuse me" or "Excuse me, ma'am" would be what I would expect. If you are especially trying to get the attention of someone whose name you don't know, then a "ma'am" or "sir" would be employed. It is better than a "hey!"