How would you address Sir Alex Ferguson?

 
Forms of Address  称呼的方式种类
 
 
(Telephone ringing, then picked up)
 
Finn:  Hello, can I speak to Fan Zhou please?
 
Frank:  Yes, speaking.
 
Finn:    Hello. My name’s Finn Aberdein, I’m calling from the BBC.
 
Frank:  Oh, hello. Nice to meet you.
 
Finn:    Nice to speak to you too. One question: should I call you Fan Zhou, or
Zhou Fan?
 
Frank:  Well, my Chinese name’s Zhou Fan. We say the surname first. But you can
also call me Frank. It’s my English name.
 
Finn:  Your English name is Frank? Oh good. Ok, Frank. You sent us an email
about the polite way to address people in English. Could you please read
out the question for us?
 
Frank:  Sure. Sometimes people are called by their first name, sometimes by
their surname, and sometimes full name. So my question is: could you
explain in more detail what’s the convention for addressing people's names
in different ways? 
 
Finn:    What are the conventions for addressing people in different ways? Ok, let
me try and answer that for you Frank in the programme. 
 
Frank:  Ok, thank you.
 
Finn:    Thank you Frank. Bye for now.
 
Frank:  Bye.
 
(Phone hangs up)
 
Finn:    So Frank Zhou would like to know about the conventions 常规，规律 about
how to address people in English 怎么称呼一个人。 With me here in the
studio to discuss this is Feifei. 
 Feifei:  Hello Finn. 
 
Finn:    Hello Feifei. So, we just used each other’s first names there, didn’t we,
that’s because we know each other quite well.
 
Feifei:  Yes. Frank 说的很对。在英国和在中国一样，如果说话双方对彼此都很熟悉，那么就
可以直接叫对方名字。  
 
Finn:  And there’s a phrase to describe this kind of relationship between people,
you can say they’re on first name terms.
 
Feifei:  On first name terms, 通常变为朋友或好朋友后直呼对方名字的一种关系。
 
Finn:  Actually most people in the UK, especially young people, are quite happy to
use just first names. 
 
Feifei:  But of course there are a few exceptions 例外 when people… 
 
(Telephone ringing)
 
Feifei:  Oh, I’m sorry that’s my mobile. I’ll just take that call.
 
Finn:  Ok.
 
Feifei:  Hello?
 
Sales rep:  Hello I’d like to speak to Miss Feifei Feng please.
 
Feifei:  Speaking.
 
Sales rep:  Yes, I’m calling from British Mobiles. It’s about a new offer for our
customers who...
 
Feifei:  Oh, ok, I’m really sorry, I’m a little busy right now. Can you call back in ten
minutes?

Sales rep:  Of course Miss Feng. Bye.
 
(Phone hangs up)
 
Feifei:  Sorry about that Finn.
 
Finn:  That’s alright Feifei, no problem. I noticed she called you Miss Feifei Feng
there, the first time. 
 
Feifei:  Yes. 在英国，如果给一个不认识的人，没打过交道的人，从未通过话的人打电话，那
么这是就应该叫这个人的全名。这也适用于商业场合中给客户打电话也应该是使用这个
方式。
 
Finn:  Not only does it sound polite, it also helps you confirm you are speaking to
the right person. So that’s one time we might use the full name. Another
time would be when people meet in a business context face-to-face for the
first time, or are introduced to others in a business context. 
 Feifei:  Finn 用了  context 上下文这个词。很多时候，我们怎么称呼一个人都取决于上下
文。在正式的商务场合中，人们通常会使用全名来介绍和称呼彼此。
 
Finn:  Yes, though every business is different. Here at the BBC we often use first
names even when we meet for the first time. So you’d say it’s the same as
when… 
 
(Telephone ringing)
 
Finn:    Sorry Feifei that’s my phone going now. I’m just going to take this call.
 
 
Finn:  Hey mate.
 
Jim:  Hey mate, just checking you’re on your way to the pub to watch the
football?
 
Finn:  Yeah, sure, I’ll be there. Speak to you later.
 
(Phone hangs up)
 
Feifei:  大家应该刚才注意到了  Finn 在和他朋友讲话时，没有叫名字。现在在英国，很多人都
会用 mate 这个词来称呼自己的朋友。 
 
Finn:  I might also say, “excuse me mate” to a guy I don’t know, in the bus for
example.
 
(Telephone ringing)
 
Feifei:    Hello?
 
Dr Johnson: Hello is that Miss Feng? This is Doctor Johnson.
 
Feifei:  Oh, hello Doctor Johnson.
 
Dr Johnson: I was just calling to check you got my message. 
 
Feifei:  Yes I did thanks. Sorry, I’m just in the middle of something right now.
 
Dr Johnson: Oh, ok, speak to you later then. Bye.
 
Feifei:  Bye.
 
(Phone hangs up)
 
Feifei:  Sorry Finn.
 
Finn:  That’s ok. Ah Feifei, I noticed you called him Doctor.
 
Feifei:  Yes I did. 这一点英国和中国一样，如果某人有一个头衔，那我们使用头衔加上这个人
的姓氏来称呼对方。  I think I’m going to switch my mobile off now.
 
Finn:  Fair enough. Good idea. Well, I hope you’re feeling ok, nothing serious with
the doctor?

Feifei:   No, no, I’m fine.
 
Finn:  Good. Well, how about we attempt to summarize our discussion before we
get interrupted again?
 
Feifei:  Ok.
 
Finn:  We often use first names and surnames when meeting people for the first
time, for example in a formal business context.
 
Feifei:  Or when being polite and clarifying someone’s name 在电话中确认某人的名
字。
 
Finn:  Although many people, young people especially, just use first names.
 
Feifei:  And when speaking to someone like a doctor or professor, we often use
this title when we address them.
 
Finn:  So for instance: “Hello doctor”; or with the surname: “Hello Dr Johnson”;
but you don’t often hear all three: “hello Dr Jamie Johnson” sounds a bit
funny.
 
Feifei:  跟这个相反的是英国现在很多年轻人之间互相称呼彼此为  ‘mate’.
 
Finn:  And remember, if you’re not sure whether to just use the first name or
both names, it’s better to be polite and use both at first. Whoever you’re
talking to will soon tell you if you’re being too polite.
 
Feifei:  这是一个非常好地建议，不过还有一个小问题，很多外国人不知道中国人的名字是名在
前还是姓在前，也不知道到底是应该直呼大名还是应该不用姓，只用名。所以最好的方
法还是像听友Frank一样，告诉对方你希望他们怎么称呼你。 
 
Insert
 
Frank:  Well, my Chinese name’s Zhou Fan. We say the surname first. But you can
also call me Frank. It’s my English name.
 
Finn:  That’s right. So, we’re almost at the end of the… oh, there’s my phone

again!
 
(Telephone ringing)
 
Finn:  Hello mate?
 
Jim:  Where are you? The football’s started! Rooney’s just scored an amazing
goal!
 
Finn:  Oh no! Ok, I’m coming!
 
(Phone hangs up)
 
Feifei:  Sounds like you’re in trouble.   
 Finn:  Yes, I’d better get going. But that reminds me, Frank also asked about
when we call other people only by their surname. One example is when we
talk about people like footballers.
 
Feifei:  是的，我们通常在称呼足球运动员时直接叫他们的姓，像是 Rooney or Beckham.
虽然现在在有些贵族学校偶尔还会听到大家互相以姓氏称呼彼此，不过在日常生活中人
们已经不再使用这种较为过时的称呼方式。
 
Finn:  Anyway, we’d better get going Feifei if I’m going to get to the pub on time.
 
Feifei:  And I’ve got my doctor’s appointment.
 
Finn:  So everyone, bye for now. See you next time.
 
Feifei:  See you.
 
(Telephone ringing)
 
Finn’s voice:  Hello. You’re through to Finn’s voicemail. Please leave a message, or if you
have any questions about learning English, please email them to
questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk. Thank you.