Don't Call Me 'AUNTIE'! Call Me 'MISS'!

FWAH!! Reading this letter to the press makes my blood boil!!

Sep 14, 2010
Drop the 'uncle' and 'auntie' habit


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)
......................................

What HIGH TIME????
Auntie Puay Hong must have been called an 'Auntie' while shopping in the heartlands, got dulan, and so decided to write to the forum in her attempt to change a very fundamental way of Asian life.

In many Asian cultures, addressing someone, who maybe a stranger and is not a young adult, as 'uncle' and 'auntie' is a form of RESPECT, i.e. you recognise his/her seniority and 'position'. On top of that invisible meaning, there is an additional layer of endearment when these terms are used.

For example, to address a middle-age (married) female, one would use the following terms in Asia:

• Mak Cik (Malay)
• Obasan (Japanese)
• Ajumma (Korean)
• *Please insert more examples*

It's downright pretentious to expect to be addressed as 'Madam' or 'Miss' in the heartlands.

If you are so keen on that, then perhaps you should be shopping at Cold Storage where the Filipino cashier will call you 'Mom'. Shiok or not?

I would hate to go to the wet market or kopitiam and be addressed as 'Miss' or 'Madam'. I'm used to being call 小妹, 美女or 姐姐. =))

Maybe the day when the vege/fruit sellers at Tekka Market starts calling me "Auntie", I too would be writing to the press, government bodies, MPs, blogs, everywhere... to exclaim that everyone has to kick the 'Auntie' and 'Uncle' habit in the name of the Speak Good English campaign.