Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-26
PREFIxES.
Every Language Has Its Method Of
Showing Respect.

Every Language Has Its Method Of
Showing Respect.
1t Is really a curious system that we
have here and in every other place OF
putting a prefix, in order to be polite
or as an act of courtesy, to the name
of the person whom we greatly es-
teen, or who Is connected with Us Dv
the bonds Of friendship. This custom
| plainly demonstrates the curious ex-
listing social relations, for is there any
reason why people should be called by
| their names alone? And II 1t Is con-
sidered a proof Of respect, whence
comes that respect? Why should we
use the prefix "Don," Sonora" or "Se-
norita," then, as a matter Of necassi
ty?
The most humble Roman, even !f Gt
were a slave, whether he was address
| ing a good friend Of his or whether he
bowed with respect before the great
Caesar, he would have not thought Il
necessary to use any prefix whatever
in order to perform his duty, and at
that time it would not have been con-
sidered an act of discourtesy toward
his superior.
During the time of the Roman en-
perors it was considered an act Of per-
sonal respect to use the word "domi-
nus" (head of the house.) According
sirous Of becoming popular, offered
banquets to the masses-that Is to
say to the lower classes-and in or
der to inspire confidence among the
invited guests, and to show them that
he considered them his equals, he
would shake hands with every person
who arrived and called them "domi-
NUS" or mister. but the custom was
not established as a general rule, be-
cause "dominus' had another meaning,
although the poets would use it in Its
feminine gender, domino" as an en-
dearing name among lovers.
The modern use of "dominus" did
not appear until the western empire
came to an end. What until then had
been a casual tribute Of respect be-
came necessary in order to address
perso,s of high rank, and lady, wife
of knight or wife Of the owner of
castle, became inca domina," then
| inca DONNA" afterward madonna"
and lastly madame" The young un-
married women of the Middle Ages
received the name of "dominicella,"
which afterward became "demoiselle,"
and this finally became "mademois-
ellie"
A knight was domino" and after
ward "donmo," from which the Span
ish don" Is taken. But later on the
masculine and feminine genders melted
into one dame" which meant gentle
men as we'll as lady. That is why the
present French exclamation, dame"
means "senor' and not "senora," as
some people suppose.
Toward the twelfth century the word
dame" as a masculine title began to
be substituted by another, the Latin
senior" which has survived in the
same form, used as "sezor" in Span
ish, senior" in Portuguese. "signor"
in Italian and "seigneur'' in French.
The same word mutilated stands for
the French "sieur" or monsieur" In
English 1t has it's equivalent In Sir"
which at one time was an ecclesiastical
title, and which meant reverend and
was also a university title applied to
bachelors. The "maitre" Of the French
Is an appellative which is applied to
respectable persons that deserve res
pect, but of low classes, as for, exam
pie, in Spanish, 1t Is said "Senor Pepe"
to an individual who is respected but
belongs to the lower class.
In regard to respect in name, there
Is not a country ahead Of the Chinese.
According to their Oriental courtesy,
Chinese gentleman believes that the
ordinary pronouns you and "he" are
too familiar applied to persons with
whom one Is not in close touch, and
employs a series Of complicated ex-
pressions Besides, in order to show
re 5pect for persons of high rank and II
tile Qedu, tIe SiiileSe heNei PiohouhS"
their real names, but others, so that
the daily use will not profane their
sacred names. Owing to this rsason,
while we speak with great familiarity
about Confucius (Khong- -Fu-Se), a
Chinaman will only give the name Of
Sian sing, or some other name, in
order to demonstrate the respect he
processes and not to degrade the name
that his parents gave him.-Mexican
Herald.