Can “old man” be used by females to address unrelated older men?
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I'm a fan-translator, translating from Oriental languages to English, and I've been told to translate "uncle" to "old man", since a direct translation would imply a familial relation where there was none.
I just discovered that Google gives one of the definitions of "old man" as "an affectionate form of address between men or boys." But none of the dictionary sites say anything about "between men or boys," just something along the lines of "an affectionate term used in addressing a man." So have I been using it wrong, or is it okay for females to use the term too?
gender
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
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xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
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I'm a fan-translator, translating from Oriental languages to English, and I've been told to translate "uncle" to "old man", since a direct translation would imply a familial relation where there was none.
I just discovered that Google gives one of the definitions of "old man" as "an affectionate form of address between men or boys." But none of the dictionary sites say anything about "between men or boys," just something along the lines of "an affectionate term used in addressing a man." So have I been using it wrong, or is it okay for females to use the term too?
gender
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
"Old man" is not necessarily an affectionate, nor even a neutral term in English.
– Robusto
55 mins ago
Related
– Robusto
53 mins ago
The definitions you mention -- both Google's and dictionaries' -- all specify that it's for addressing a man, not referring to one. So it wouldn't serve your purpose whether or not women use it.
– ruakh
9 mins ago
Yeah, I edited it to "address."
– xiiliea
5 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
I'm a fan-translator, translating from Oriental languages to English, and I've been told to translate "uncle" to "old man", since a direct translation would imply a familial relation where there was none.
I just discovered that Google gives one of the definitions of "old man" as "an affectionate form of address between men or boys." But none of the dictionary sites say anything about "between men or boys," just something along the lines of "an affectionate term used in addressing a man." So have I been using it wrong, or is it okay for females to use the term too?
gender
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm a fan-translator, translating from Oriental languages to English, and I've been told to translate "uncle" to "old man", since a direct translation would imply a familial relation where there was none.
I just discovered that Google gives one of the definitions of "old man" as "an affectionate form of address between men or boys." But none of the dictionary sites say anything about "between men or boys," just something along the lines of "an affectionate term used in addressing a man." So have I been using it wrong, or is it okay for females to use the term too?
gender
gender
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 6 mins ago
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
asked 1 hour ago
xiiliea
135
135
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
xiiliea is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
"Old man" is not necessarily an affectionate, nor even a neutral term in English.
– Robusto
55 mins ago
Related
– Robusto
53 mins ago
The definitions you mention -- both Google's and dictionaries' -- all specify that it's for addressing a man, not referring to one. So it wouldn't serve your purpose whether or not women use it.
– ruakh
9 mins ago
Yeah, I edited it to "address."
– xiiliea
5 mins ago
add a comment |
1
"Old man" is not necessarily an affectionate, nor even a neutral term in English.
– Robusto
55 mins ago
Related
– Robusto
53 mins ago
The definitions you mention -- both Google's and dictionaries' -- all specify that it's for addressing a man, not referring to one. So it wouldn't serve your purpose whether or not women use it.
– ruakh
9 mins ago
Yeah, I edited it to "address."
– xiiliea
5 mins ago
1
1
"Old man" is not necessarily an affectionate, nor even a neutral term in English.
– Robusto
55 mins ago
"Old man" is not necessarily an affectionate, nor even a neutral term in English.
– Robusto
55 mins ago
Related
– Robusto
53 mins ago
Related
– Robusto
53 mins ago
The definitions you mention -- both Google's and dictionaries' -- all specify that it's for addressing a man, not referring to one. So it wouldn't serve your purpose whether or not women use it.
– ruakh
9 mins ago
The definitions you mention -- both Google's and dictionaries' -- all specify that it's for addressing a man, not referring to one. So it wouldn't serve your purpose whether or not women use it.
– ruakh
9 mins ago
Yeah, I edited it to "address."
– xiiliea
5 mins ago
Yeah, I edited it to "address."
– xiiliea
5 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
-1
down vote
Note: This was made before this comment from OP:
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
I've heard "old man" used for "father", although, mainly from sons, not daughters.
Its use for uncles at all, is new to me.
I think, "Uncle" as a affectionate term, is usually used for family friends, usually mainly through the parents, as to have an "uncle-like" familiarity with them or something.
Give an example sentence and its translation, and we can decide further?
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
-1
down vote
Note: This was made before this comment from OP:
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
I've heard "old man" used for "father", although, mainly from sons, not daughters.
Its use for uncles at all, is new to me.
I think, "Uncle" as a affectionate term, is usually used for family friends, usually mainly through the parents, as to have an "uncle-like" familiarity with them or something.
Give an example sentence and its translation, and we can decide further?
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Note: This was made before this comment from OP:
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
I've heard "old man" used for "father", although, mainly from sons, not daughters.
Its use for uncles at all, is new to me.
I think, "Uncle" as a affectionate term, is usually used for family friends, usually mainly through the parents, as to have an "uncle-like" familiarity with them or something.
Give an example sentence and its translation, and we can decide further?
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Note: This was made before this comment from OP:
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
I've heard "old man" used for "father", although, mainly from sons, not daughters.
Its use for uncles at all, is new to me.
I think, "Uncle" as a affectionate term, is usually used for family friends, usually mainly through the parents, as to have an "uncle-like" familiarity with them or something.
Give an example sentence and its translation, and we can decide further?
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
Note: This was made before this comment from OP:
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
I've heard "old man" used for "father", although, mainly from sons, not daughters.
Its use for uncles at all, is new to me.
I think, "Uncle" as a affectionate term, is usually used for family friends, usually mainly through the parents, as to have an "uncle-like" familiarity with them or something.
Give an example sentence and its translation, and we can decide further?
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
edited 26 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
answered 1 hour ago
Malandy
325214
325214
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
Ah, I wasn't referring to "uncle" in English as in a relative, but in Asian languages like Japanese, where it is normal to call any middle-aged man "uncle." So in English I just translate it to "old man" to refer to unrelated older men affectionately.
– xiiliea
1 hour ago
add a comment |
xiiliea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
xiiliea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
xiiliea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
xiiliea is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
"Old man" is not necessarily an affectionate, nor even a neutral term in English.
– Robusto
55 mins ago
Related
– Robusto
53 mins ago
The definitions you mention -- both Google's and dictionaries' -- all specify that it's for addressing a man, not referring to one. So it wouldn't serve your purpose whether or not women use it.
– ruakh
9 mins ago
Yeah, I edited it to "address."
– xiiliea
5 mins ago