Western titles and terms of address

In the west，especially in Britain，status titles are associated with class distinctions――Lord Apley，Earl Bernard（'Count 'is used in Western European countries）．The British upper class families usually have titles，such as Duke1），Marquis2），Earl3），Viscount4）and Baron5）．In the U．S．，however，class differences are minimized and Americans do not have those titles．Instead，they use occupational titles，which denote a recognition that has been earned，not merely inherited．

Occupations which most frequently carry titles include：diplomats，members of the Congress and the Senate，Judges of the courts，military6） officers，medical doctors，ranking professors，priests，rabbis，and some Protestant clergy．

Examples would be：Ambassador Jones，Senator Smith，Governor Rockefeller，Judge Harley，General Clark，Dr．Brown（medical），Dr．Green（Ph．D．），Father White，Rabbi Cohen，Bishop Gray and etc．

Generally speaking，men in all other occupations are addressed as"Mister"，women as"Ms "．"Sir"and"Ma 'am"（Madam）are more respectful terms of address．In Britain，the relationship between people is more formal than that in the U．S．A．，friendly and informalrelationship is more important to Americans than either rank or status．Americans think that they can still respect a person deeply even if they call him Charlie or Paul．To them，respect and informality are not related．

西方的头衔与称谓

在西方，尤其在英国，象征地位的头衔与社会等级差别紧密相关，如阿普莱勋爵、伯纳德伯爵（西欧国家用count一词）。英国上层社会的家族大都有世袭头衔，例如：公爵、侯爵、伯爵、子爵和男爵。然而，在美国，社会等级的差异微乎其微，美国人没有英国的那些世袭头衔。取而代之的是职业称谓。这些职业称谓所表明的是靠自己的努力而赢得的一种承认，而不仅仅是靠世袭继承。

最常带有称谓的职业有：外交官、议员、法官、军官、医生、教授、牧师、犹太教教士以及一些新教牧师。

常见的例子有：琼斯大使、史密斯议员、洛克菲勒州长、哈利法官、克拉克将军、布朗大夫、格林博士、怀特教父、科恩教士和格雷大主教。

一般来说，所有从事其他职业的男性被称为"先生"，女性被称为"女士"。"阁下"和"夫人／太太"是对男、女两性的尊称。在英国，待人接物要比美国正式。对美国人来说，友好和不拘礼节的人际关系要比头衔和社会地位更为重要。美国人认为，即使他们对某人直呼其名，如查理或保罗，他们仍然是很尊重这个人的。对他们来说，彬彬有礼与洒脱不拘是各不相干的两码事。

NOTE 注释：

1. duke n. 公爵

2. marquis n. (英国等的)侯爵

3. earl n. <英>伯爵

4. viscount n. (英国的)子爵

5. baron n. 男爵(英国世袭的最低级的贵族爵位)

6. military adj 军队的
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