Forms of address

Forms of address vary between cultures, mainly in terms of whether to use first names, last names, and titles. For example, in Germany great emphasis is placed on titles, and a man with two doctorates will be referred to as Herr Doktor Doktor. Germans are quick to take offence if they think they are not being addressed properly. Titles are always used when introducing people in countries such as Germany and Italy, often as a way of conveying the person's occupation and educational status. The honorific “Don” is used in Latin countries to acknowledge a person's position of influence and power.

（What is “address”？）

There is considerable cross-cultural variation in the use of first names. In the United States, people newly introduced very quickly begin to call each other by their given names. However, in other societies, such as Italy, Germany, and to some extent Britain, first names are reserved for addressing close friends ad family members. These differences can lead to sojourner-host friction. For instance, a distinguished British academic psychologist visiting Australia was heard to complain about the rudeness of Australian undergraduates. It turned out that he was referring to a question and answer session in his seminar presentation during which the students called him by his given name. He was only partially mollified when it was suggested that this indicated that the students accepted him and that their informal approach was a mark of respect.（What does it suggest？）

The principle underlying such communication difficulties stems from culturally determined differences in the extent to which importance is attached to rank, title and profession. As researchers have noted, power distance varies across cultures. These variations relate to differences in beliefs as to whether people should be regarded as equals irrespective of their birth, position or wealth; or whether individuals in certain social categories (including class, gender and age) should be given greater respect. The use of honorific or respect names indicates a deferential attitude on the part of the speaker and draws attention to the social or occupation role of the person being addressed. Societies high on power distance are more likely to employ forms of address that reflect an acceptance or a belief in status differences.

Forms of address play a prominent role in facilitating or hindering intercultural communication, because of their high visibility and ubiquity. During most conversations, the participants will at some stage use a form of address. A person incorrectly address (from their perspective) will almost certainly notice the error,r and depending on the context, may interpret it as an insult, or at best, an indication of ignorance on the part of the other person. At the same time, there are many opportunities for inadvertent misuse of forms of address， due to heir variability and the subtleties in the rules that determine them.