Drop the 'uncle' and 'auntie' habit
-
Sep 14, 2010 - ST Forum
IN LINE with the current Speak Good English campaign, I suggest that the organisers look into educating the masses on the proper terms of address for people as well.
Very often, at places like wet markets, hawker centres and heartland shops, one can hear the shop or stall owners addressing men and women who appear to be in their 40s as "uncle" and "auntie". It is ridiculous to see even middle-aged and elderly people address these men and women that way.
It is not right, nor respectful, to use these terms so loosely - by those who are about the same age as the ones addressed.
It is high time we replaced "uncle" and "auntie" with "Mr" or "Sir", and "Miss" or "Madam". These are more respectful forms of address and will tie in well with the Speak Good English campaign.
Kho Puay Hong (Ms)
-
Kaoz.... its our culture here... imagine the fishmonger calling your mum sister... sounds weirder rite.... sounds like your mum is a nun....
-
I don't see anything wrong addressing in such terms. In fact it forge a closer tie and respectful.
-
this is our 特色
im against changing it -
Its better to call Uncle or Aunty then "Aoi"! Not everyone is short.
-
In order to address these elderly Mr or Mdm, we have to know their surnames first right? So its a hassle to do that, and it may risk remembering their surnames wrongly, and cause embaressment
-
she just buay song got people older than her call her auntie la.
hahaha
-
so awkward to be saying this when u get into a cab "sir, please bring me to orchard central. thank you"
(uncle, orchert senter!)
and then when ordering food at fc, "good afternoon m'am, i would like a bowl of minced meat noodles, with thin noodles and no chilli please"
(auntie ah, bak chor mee, mee kia, mai hiam)
and at the wet market, "hi big sister, what would you like? the little white vegetables are really fresh today. if you buy in bulk, i will offer you economies of scale"
(da jie, ai ximi? xiao bai cai today bery good sia. u buy more i gib u discount) -
There is nothing to do with respect, or right/wrong terms. I think it is more disrespectful to call people"Hey you!'or Öei!
-
speak chinese!!!
-
Ang Moh will say.. "Oh.. I am not your uncle or auntie.. we hardly even know each other, u can call me Smith.. Mr Smith"
lol
Cina will say "Wah.. your kids sooo guai ah... know how to address and respect elders"
-
(ms) Kho must be buay song with people calling her auntie ?
-
when i buy cai png, the ah beng used to call me �妹
not they call me �� or 美女
i m just waiting for the day they call me auntie.this would mean an upgrade.
-
Originally posted by Fatum:
(ms) Kho must be buay song with people calling her auntie ?
HAHAHA QUOTED FOR THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
heard only a malaysian regard uncle term like even the noodle seller was his relative.and he really meant what he said...lol
-
maybe we should try terms like Ahjuma and Ahjashi ?
-
Originally posted by BadzMaro:
Ang Moh will say.. "Oh.. I am not your uncle or auntie.. we hardly even know each other, u can call me Smith.. Mr Smith"
lol
Cina will say "Wah.. your kids sooo guai ah... know how to address and respect elders"
some ang mo address their parents or grandparents by their first name.
-
Originally posted by SevenEleven:
maybe we should try terms like Ahjuma and Ahjashi ?
I still prefer uncle than Ah jia sai.
-
I dunno...
The writer thinks we're all maids ah???
"Sir, what u want for lunch?"
"Sir, where u want to go?"
"Madam, today vegetables very fresh"
but ultimately, I still think the writer not happy someone call her auntie ba...
-
哈哈哈�。。。i also think TS buay song kanna call auntie....
aiyah, dun call people Hey You or Oei, can already
if angmoh, say sir or mdm lor....
what is the fuss about.....=.=!
-
I never really thought about it, but now that someone has brought it up, it is a really Singaporean thing to do. I guess its how we were brought up right? I say we should all continue this way. Even if we address ang mo or those that act like ang mo. Ang mo in our country, better get used to it. call them sir or mdm? they better than us meh?