For me, one of daily challenges is being addressed as "sweetie" or "hon" by complete strangers.

對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，有一個(gè)日常的小煩惱就是被一個(gè)全然不認(rèn)識(shí)的人稱(chēng)為“親愛(ài)的”或是“甜心”。

I get this regularly--from the coffee-cart vendor or department store salesperson, on the phone or at a doctor's office. Since when do strangers feel they can address others with such familiarity?

我經(jīng)常被賣(mài)咖啡的小販或百貨商店售貨員這么叫，在電話里或是在醫(yī)生辦公室里也常這樣。從什么時(shí)候開(kāi)始，陌生人感覺(jué)他們可以用這樣熟稔的稱(chēng)呼叫別人的？

It rankles that some of the people I get this from are young enough that I could pass for their mother--that is, if I had had kids early. I understand the attempts to be friendly or convey warmth, but would the salesperson or vendor addressing me as I stand before them in a suit do the same to a man next to me dressed similarly? Somehow I doubt it.

更讓人可惱的是，有些這么稱(chēng)呼我的人還很年輕，我夠當(dāng)他們的媽媽了——如果我早點(diǎn)生了孩子的話。我明白這些人試圖表現(xiàn)得親切或是表示對(duì)你的熱情，但是這些售貨員如此稱(chēng)呼站在她們面前西裝革履的我，她們也會(huì)對(duì)我旁邊同樣西裝革履的男人也這樣稱(chēng)呼嗎？我有點(diǎn)懷疑。

Is it a generational thing? Or a cultural disconnect? One colleague says she doesn't mind at all being called "sweetie" because it makes her feel young.

是因?yàn)槟甏煌藛幔窟€是文化差異？我的一個(gè)同事說(shuō)，她一點(diǎn)也不在意有人叫她“親愛(ài)的”，因?yàn)檫@讓她感覺(jué)自己很年輕。

I guess I'm of the Jane Austen school of social conduct that believes "sir" and "ma'am," "please" and "pardon me" are proper forms of address in daily discourse. I say "excuse me, ma'am" or "sir, could you please..." when I have a question or need assistance. Perhaps I exaggerate, but I do sometimes worry that the increasing erosion of good manners I see every day or read about could spell the end of a civilized society.

我猜我在社交行為準(zhǔn)則上屬于簡(jiǎn)·奧斯汀派，認(rèn)為“先生”和“女士”，“請(qǐng)”和“對(duì)不起”是日常交流中適宜的說(shuō)法。我會(huì)在有問(wèn)題或需要幫助時(shí)說(shuō)“對(duì)不起，女士”或“先生，您能……”?；蛟S我夸大其詞了，不過(guò)我有時(shí)真的擔(dān)心，我每天看到的或是讀到的禮貌舉止的日益衰敗可能預(yù)示著文明社會(huì)的終結(jié)。

A New York Times article last year detailed how being called "sweetie" or "dear" chips away at the dignity of older people. "Professionals call it elderspeak, the sweetly belittling form of address that has always rankled older people," the article says. The piece refers to studies showing "that the insults can have health consequences, especially if people mutely accept the attitudes behind them."

去年《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》上的一篇文章詳細(xì)講述了對(duì)年長(zhǎng)的人來(lái)說(shuō)，被稱(chēng)為“親愛(ài)的”有損他們的尊嚴(yán)。文章中說(shuō)，這種甜蜜但帶有貶低色彩的稱(chēng)呼形式總會(huì)讓年長(zhǎng)的人感到惱怒。文章引述了研究結(jié)果，說(shuō)這種侮辱性稱(chēng)呼能帶來(lái)健康問(wèn)題，特別是如果人們默默地接受了稱(chēng)呼背后的態(tài)度時(shí)。

On several occasions, I speak up, asking others to refrain from addressing me with undue familiarity. Just tell me yes or no or provide help or point me to the right direction--no niceties or terms of endearment necessary.

在某些場(chǎng)合，我會(huì)大聲說(shuō)出來(lái)，請(qǐng)別人不要用過(guò)于熟稔的稱(chēng)呼來(lái)叫我。干脆點(diǎn)，告訴我“是”還是“否”，提供幫助或給我指路，不需要親切的稱(chēng)呼或是表示喜愛(ài)的詞匯。

Readers, what's your take on this? Do you mind being "sweetie-d" by strangers? Have you used these terms yourselves to casually address people you don't know?

朋友們，你對(duì)此有何看法？你在意被陌生人稱(chēng)為“親愛(ài)的”嗎？你自己用這樣的詞稱(chēng)呼過(guò)陌生人嗎？

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（來(lái)源：北外網(wǎng)院，英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津編輯）