Unlocking the Power of <i>Oom</i> and <i>Tannie</i>: How Forms of Address Shape Perception and Respect in Afrikaans
Although some research on forms of address toward adults in the South African context has been conducted in the past, there remains a gap regarding the use of <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i> as a specific informal Afrikaans form of address. This study comprises both a review of...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Languages |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/9/11/340 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Although some research on forms of address toward adults in the South African context has been conducted in the past, there remains a gap regarding the use of <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i> as a specific informal Afrikaans form of address. This study comprises both a review of the existing literature and an empirical investigation to address this gap. A mixed-methods approach was used to conduct the empirical investigation. Quantitative data were collected through electronic questionnaires completed by adults and learners. Qualitative data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data indicated that the use of <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i> is still prevalent in the Afrikaans-speaking community, demonstrating a high frequency of use. From the data, it becomes evident that age, respect, familiarity, social class, and status serve as determining factors in the use of <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i>. The age difference between speaker and addressee that serves as the accepted norm for using <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i> remains ten years or more. It seems that the Afrikaans community is moving toward a more informal and solidary society, with <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i> or <i>first names</i> being preferred over the use of titles. Without a doubt, <i>oom</i> and <i>tannie</i> are used in the Afrikaans community as alternative forms of respect. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2226-471X |