Forms of address in Themiclesia

Forms of address in Themiclesia typically convey the speaker's attitude towards and sometimes relationship with the addressed. Themiclesian culture dictates that whenever a form of address is available, addressing another by name is to be avoided and may be perceived as insulting. This article does not include pronouns.

Themiclesians also distinguish between personal name and courtesy name; the latter is used by society to identify the individual verbally, while the former is used by one to identify oneself. This practice is reflected on name cards, where both names typically are printed.

General appellations

Males

• 先生 (seehn-sreng), lit. "afore-born", indicating the speaker's deference to the addressed on a pretext of seniority. This is a general term used to address males.
• 郎君 (lang-kiuehn), lit. "esquire-ruler", a compound from an ancient position at the Menghean court that later developed into a title for ministers, and a general term of respect derived from a word meaning "ruler". More typically used to address younger males, especially by their lovers.
• 公 (kong), lit. "duke", a term used between males of a certain age or social status.

Females

• 女士 (nria-lang), lit. "lady-gentleman", used on any adult female, the female counterpart of 先生.

Gender non-specific

• 君 (kiuehn), lit. "ruler", can be used on all individuals to denote respect, or as some may frame it, "respectful distance".
• 卿 (k'rieng), lit. "counsel", typically used between married couples.
• 足下 (tsiok-ghra), typically used between acquaintances.

Family relations

Parents

• 大人 (dads-njiehn), lit. "large-person", for both parents.
• 父親 (piuax-ts'jiehn), lit. "father-parent", for addressing one's father.
• 母親 (mo-ts'jiehn), lit. "mother-parent", for addressing one's mother.
• 大父 (dads-piuax), lit. "large-father", for addressing one's paternal grandfather.
• 大母 (dads-mo), lit. "large-mother", for addressing one's paternal grandmother.
• 王大父 (ghiuang-dads-piuax), lit. "large-father", for addressing one's father's paternal grandfather.
• 王大母 (ghiuang-dads-mo), lit. "large-mother", for addressing one's father's paternal grandmother.
• 高父 (kaw-piuax), lit. "large-father", for addressing one's paternal grandfather's paternal grandfather.
• 高母 (kaw-mo), lit. "large-mother", for addressing one's paternal grandfather's paternal grandmother.

Titled individuals

Royalty and nobility

• 陛下 (beei-ghra), usually rendered as "your majesty", for addressing the emperor or foreign monarchs.
• 殿下 (deuehn-ghra'), usually rendered as "your highness", for addressing the empress, empress dowager, grand empress dowager, and crown prince, or foreign analogues.
• 第下 (deeds-ghra), usually rendered as "your lordship", for addressing princes and other nobility.

Officials

• 閣下 (kak-ghra), usually rendered as "the honourable", for addressing government officials.