When writing or speaking to people professionally, e.g., at university, it is important to get their names right. Usually, Western (English) names have two parts. The given names come first. There can be one or more. For example, one of the writers of this book is called Olwyn. These are the names that parents choose.
Last comes the family name, which is (usually) the same name as the father’s family, e.g., Alexander. Be careful: some names can be either a given name or a family name. For example, in Prince Charles and Charles Darwin, Charles is a given name, but in Dr Susan Charles, it is a family name. English speakers often get confused by this and have to check.
Key words
professionally the given names the family name formally
Formally, you also have to know the title that a person uses. In the application for postgraduate study on page 17, there is a list of possible titles. To begin a formal written communication, the title followed by the family name is used, e.g., Dear Ms Alexander. With friends, people use the first given name without a title. When you know a teacher well, they may want you to be less formal with them and ask you to use their given name: Please call me Olwyn.
Task 6 Noticing language in names
In the left-hand column of the table below, circle the family names, underline given names and highlight titles.
Task 7 Using language in names correctly Complete the table to show how to use formal and informal names. full name
formal communication
Dr Susan Elizabeth Charles Ms Caroline West Prof Robert Morris Dr Naseem Malik
Most English-speaking universities have an international mix of students and staff. This means that many staff members do not have names based on the system outlined above. It is important to check a person’s name by looking at how they write it, or by asking someone to say or spell it.
Example: I’m sorry, I’m not sure how to write/say her/his/your name.
Task 8: Speaking Ask another student how to say or write her/his name.
informal communication
32
ACCESS EAP: Foundations • Unit 2
Self study
Find a department staff list on an English- speaking university website. Choose some names and show how you would begin an e-mail to each member of staff. Bring what you write to share with the class.
Write a real e-mail to your teacher. Choose one of the purposes below. • to arrange a meeting to discuss feedback on a draft
• to explain why you missed a lesson • to offer to help with a visit to your university by some local schoolchildren
• to ask a question about something the teacher said in a lesson
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