In modern and traditional societies, address is an important element of social interaction. “Address” in this context means the spoken reference to a conversational partner. Forms of address are the various linguistic expressions that serve the process of address. In German, these include pronouns, forenames, surnames, titles, and professional and kinship terms.
Address in the early modern period and since has also included, as a practice associated with rules of convention, specific gestures, e.g. kissing a lady’s hand, bowing, the polite doffin…
Cite this page
Becker, Peter,
“Address, forms of”, in:
Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012.
Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_016871>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321