Call Professor by His First Name  对教授直呼其名

博主改写英语原文并翻译成汉语，对照发帖于此，供网友参考。

It is normal in the USA for students to call their professor by his first name. (1) This is not a sign of disrespect, but a way of showing the equality between professors and students, and the healthy freedom from rigid social ritual. (2) 在美国，学生直呼教授的名字是很正常的。这不是不尊敬人的表现，而是一种显示师生平等的方式，和摆脱刻板社会礼节的一种良好形式。

So the newly arrived foreign students should not be surprised if other students, teaching fellows, and even some professors use his or her first name and expect the student to call them by their first name, even after only a brief acquaintance.  所以，刚到美国的外国学生，如果听到同学、教师，甚至一些教授只叫他的名字，并希望他们也这样叫他，甚至才相识不久也这样，他不别惊奇。

Indeed first names are used more frequently in the United States than elsewhere. This practice is governed by certain generally accepted rules of etiquette. 的确，在美国，直呼其名，比在其他国家更为流行，但是，这个习惯也为一些公认的礼仪所制约。

Thus, while it is appropriate for the foreign student to address people of his or her own approximate age and status by their first name, the student would be expected to use “Mr.,” ‘Mrs.,” “Miss,” or “Ms.” and the person’s last name in addressing another individual who is clearly older than the student.

On the other hand, the older person will probably address the student by his or her first name from the beginning. 于是，外国学生对和自己年龄与地位相近的人可以叫名字，而对年龄显然比自己大的人则应该称之为“某先生”、“某夫人”、“某小姐”、“某女士”。另一方面，年龄大的人大概一开始便会叫学生的名字。

If the other person being addressed has a title such as “Ambassador” or “Dean,” the student should use that title and the last name. For example, Senator Edward Kennedy would be addressed as “Senator Kennedy.” 如果对方有头衔，比如大使或院长，学生应该称呼他的头衔和姓。比如，参议员爱德华 • 肯尼迪，应该称呼为“参议员肯尼迪”。

Any faculty member can be addressed as “Professor,” regardless of whether he or she holds the rank of assistant professor, associate professor, or full professor. Equally acceptable are “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” etc. 任何教师都可以被称之为“教授”，而不考虑他实际上是助理教授、副教授或正教授。“先生”、“夫人”也为人们所接受。

The use of nicknames is fairly common among people in the United States. A nickname is not the person’s real name but a name assigned to him or her because of certain physical characteristics, behavior patterns, or some other factor. 在美国，人们相当普遍地使用绰号。绰号不是一个人的真名，而是别人根据他的某些身体特征、行为模式或其他因素给他取的名字。

Foreign students often get nicknames if their own names seem long and unpronounceable to their friends in the United States. Being called by a nickname is not usually uncomplimentary; on the contrary, it may indicate that the student is viewed with respect and even affection. 外国学生常常因为他们的名字对美国朋友来说太长或难念，而得到绰号。被人以绰号相称，并不一定是被人贬低。相反，可能表示对这个学生的敬重甚至有好感。

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注释：

1.       It is normal …for students to call their professor by his first name.

         句子中的first name表示 “名字”, 因为英美人的名在前。 而姓 (last name或family name) 在后。first name又叫given name, personal name。比如美国著名作家Mark Twain (马克·吐温)的姓是Twain，名是Mark。

2.       This is … a way of showing … the healthy freedom from rigid social ritual.

         句子中的ritual表示“法律、社交、习惯或规定的方式与程序”时，与rite, form, formality, ceremony, ceremonial同义。但是，ritual指宗教或组织的仪式、典礼，强调进行的方式。 再比如：The ritual of Roman Catholic Church is traditionally in Latin. (罗马天主教的仪式一贯用拉丁语进行。)

        rite指宗教的礼拜仪式，强调礼拜时的动作，也可指其他与宗教有联系的仪式。比如：The rite for the ordination of priests was observed next Friday. (封立牧师圣职的仪式下星期五举行。)

        form含义最广，指经过确认的符合规律或规定的行事方式。比如：We must observe the forms of polite society. (我们必须遵守上流社会的交际礼节。)

        formality指例行的礼节、俗套或手续等。比如：There are a few formalities for you to go through before you enter a foreign country. (你进入外国之前必须履行一些手续。)

        ceremony, 指隆重的大规模的典礼，也指传统的礼仪。比如：The wedding ceremony was beautiful. (婚礼十分豪华。) / You need not stand on ceremony. (你不必拘泥于礼节。)

        ceremonial指宫廷或教会规定的整套仪式，也可指具体的典礼。比如：According to church ceremonial the priest kisses the Bible before reading from it. (根据教会的仪式，牧师在选读《圣经》之前，要吻一下《圣经》。)

模拟题：

1.       Why can a student in the U.S.A. call his professor by the first name?

A.      He can show his disrespect for the professor.

B.      Because it is more formal than other ways.

C.      Because it indicates the equality between professors and students.

D.     He can make a good impression upon the professor.

2.       We know from the text that first names are more frequently used in _________.

A.      England

B.      the United States

C.      Europe

D.     China

3.       How to address a man who is clearly older than you according to the text?

A.      We should use “Mr.” and his last name.

B.      We should use “Miss” and her first name.

C.      We should use “Ms” and his middle name.

D.     We should use “Mrs.” and her last name.

4.       The underlined word “affection” in the last paragraph of the text means ________.

A.      affectation

B.      charity

C.      infection

D.     love

参考答案：

1. C   2. B   3. A   4. D