Sentence structure?

I have a habit of calling women whom I don't know the status of 'My Lady'. Had perhaps 5 complaints about it out of every 100 times I use it, but most don't seem to mind. Only work about 20 hours monthly so don't use it that much but I got it from watching movies about King Arthur and round table.

I normally address lady customers as "Madam" when we meet for the first time and it shocks them so much that they almost immediately insist on first names. It is a useful form of address because it's much easier to say then "Mrs Whatsit"

My favourite bit is just after that, when the Romans unsportingly attack while the Brits are having their water-break, and the Brits look up and say: "Aoh, c'est choquant, n'est-il pas?"

@ PhilK, Ironically it seems likely that the language of ancient Britain differed little from that of Gaul. Comparison with what is known of the Gaulish language suggests a close relationship with Old Brythonic (Common Brittonic).

RyanRowland


I doubt it, because we also say "ladies and gentlemen".

You have a point. But that's a phrase I associate with special occasions when you put on your fancy public manners as opposed to everyday speech.

But it's always "ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls"

But it's "women and children first..."

But also, generally, 'men and women'. When we're talking straightforwardly, it seems we use the order that reflects everyday life, the patriarchy. When we're being self-consciously polite, 'ladies' come first (and not just in life-boats, Glagla).

Or perhaps 'Ladies and gentlemen' dates from a time when women's status was inferior by such a secure distance that men felt able to be generous in such modes of address, salving their guilty consciences with the pretence that they put women first.

I was told it came from the phrase "My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen", so Lords (titled gentlemen) said first then their wives (Ladies) and lastly men who did not hold a noble rank, so if no noblemen around i guess it is Ladies and Gentlemen, hurrah patriarchy defeated for us commoners.