Re: Brothers-in-law-in-law

In article <phcc759f9eavl41etniu94a4bvff6r5aav@xxxxxxx>,
hayesmstw@xxxxxxxxxxx says...

On Sun, 2 Aug 2009 09:35:18 +0100, "Jonathan Morton"
<jonathan.mortonbutignorethispart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"Steve Hayes" <hayesmstw@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:g02a759lr99i6sf5mv4lk7l3s8eh11c2v6@xxxxxxxxxx

But I did refer to her mother's sister as my aunt, and my mother's
brother's
wife likewise.

I did the same. Again, if she's the mother of your cousins (in any) that's
good enough for me.

I'm not sure if we've ever mentioned here the use of "Uncle [or Aunt]
So-and-so" by children to refer to and address good friends of their
parents. I suspect that my generation (b. 1950s) was the last to use it, and
that it was a British (and possibly English) thing.

I've always regarded it as an Afrikaans thing, since it is (or was) customary
to address older males respectfully as "Oom" and females as "Tannie".

It passed over into English, where it is used disrespectfully - "Come on,
Uncle, move it" -- used of a car driver in front who is travelling slowly,
usually in the middle lane of a three-lane carriageway.

Ah, here in the UK, your Uncle is our Grandad.

--
Linz
Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford
My accent may vary
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Brothers-in-law-in-law
    ... I'm not sure if we've ever mentioned here the use of "Uncle [or Aunt] ... So-and-so" by children to refer to and address good friends of their ... Ah, here in the UK, your Uncle is our Grandad. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Brothers-in-law-in-law
    ... I'm not sure if we've ever mentioned here the use of "Uncle [or Aunt] ... So-and-so" by children to refer to and address good friends of their ... It passed over into English, where it is used disrespectfully - "Come on, ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Brothers-in-law-in-law
    ... I'm not sure if we've ever mentioned here the use of "Uncle [or Aunt] ... So-and-so" by children to refer to and address good friends of their ... It passed over into English, where it is used disrespectfully - "Come on, ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Rules on old funds of a deceased
    ... The person was my aunt. ... She wanted me to sign for these funds so they could be released. ... My aunt and uncle had no children and I was the only niece. ... the event of her death and the death of her husband I was left the whole estate. ...
    (uk.legal)
  • Did The Gestapo Do the Same to Jews in 38
    ... PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY (Especially in Virginia)! ... My uncle and aunt got taken away by Homeland Security last week, ... My uncle, aunt and 19-year old cousin live in Virginia, and were ...
    (soc.retirement)
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