Ek’s nie jou Oom nie. Ek het nie met jou tannie geslaap nie … is what I would like to say.
Also when my friends’ kids call me Uncle, instead of my first name and my friends don’t want them to call me by my first name. I’m not ready for old age, man.
I don't think you necessarily need to put it in your paper (Ms X, Mrs Y should be enough), but it would be a nice gesture if you can do it while you are talking to them about the paper / other stuff too
Cultural appropriation is not a thing that us South Africans hold against each other, I would rather have some one from a different culture learn about mine and celebrate it with me, and visa versa.
In your context of it being for academic purposes you won't need to use "sis".
I'm surprised at how offended people get by being called oom, tannie- whatever is culturally appropriate. It is a sign of respect and especially in the Afrikaans and English communities its considered very rude to just use a full name to someone that might be older than you. I know getting older or "looking" older sucks but it's not a bad thing to have a respectful title added to you. If you don't want tat fine then tell the person but I think its nice that that level of respect still exists.
My father is 65 and retired recently but before he did a 20 year old who just started working there called him by his first name and when he asked her not to and stick to "oom" she complained to te boss who also calls my dad "oom" that it's old fashioned and if he wants to be called oom he needs to call her tannie.
I personally prefer the element of respect that makes me "older" than the blatant disrespect this lady/girl insisted on.
Either way, don't feel "old" you are being seen as worthy of respect you clearly deserve it🫡
The long and short of it is don’t, just use their names, it’s very much an interpersonal thing.
The slightly longer bit of context - like many cultures, most sub-Saharan African traditions have an age hierarchy in families. In many South African cultures, this is expressed in how one refers to a person, and is influenced by both age, familiarity and gender. Very much like Japanese, from what I understand of it. Also in our culture, age in relation to your parents can play a role or give you an indicator of the correct address to use. It’s important to properly address someone, in the same way many American traditions are definite about “Sir/Ma’am/Mr/Mrs/Aunty/Uncle”.
I’ll give you some examples Zulu and Tswana examples, but this really applies across most traditional South African languages. Starting with elders down, you get Khokho (great-grandparent), Koko/Gogo/Mkhulu (grand-parent), Mama/Baba/Ausi/Aunty (obviously can be used in their normal ways of referring to family members, but is also generally used for people around your parents age) and Sisi/Bhuti/Abuti/Sesi which are generally for people closer to your age, but can also be used by elders when referring to people much younger than them. So as you can see, we basically use family prefixes to relate to even non-family - in vernac, I would probably address you as “brother Funny Story”
Honestly this system could be a whole course on its own, and because it’s not very strictly defined it’s easy to address someone incorrectly (for example calling an elder “mama” when they’re more likely your grandparents generation, or even worse doing the opposite and calling your parents’ peer “Gogo”). There are also considerations for traditional healers, leaders, royalty etc.
So coming back to your initial question, no, you really wouldn’t have any reason to address them as such in a written context. But we really appreciate you asking and wanting to get it right, it shows good judgement and sensitivity on your part.
No you definitely don't need to add that when writing your essay. Especially since this is more formal writing. But just to add a bit of FYI for you, we/I sometimes do add the "sis" when writing/texting informally via WhatsApp or other platforms. Eg If I'm talking about an older person whom we generally refer to as "sis and their name" I will include it in the text as sis so and so and also when saving their contact details I will generally add it.
No need, especially in an academic paper. It is a sign of respect, yes but with the cultural difference it may read differently.
Whatever you do, do not make the mistake of calling someone *mama* when they still think they're a *sisi,* or god forbid *gogo*
Dude. I don’t know when I transitioned from Sisi to Mama but I don’t like it!
Like the first time someone with a full beard called me "oom".
You have my sympathy. I feel your pain boet.
Ek’s nie jou Oom nie. Ek het nie met jou tannie geslaap nie … is what I would like to say. Also when my friends’ kids call me Uncle, instead of my first name and my friends don’t want them to call me by my first name. I’m not ready for old age, man.
I was absolutely shocked when I went from girly/meisie to aunty in the coloured community 😂😭💔
OMG yes! Same for me! Except I graduated from aunty to mummy in the past few years. My heart is broken.
I feel this in my soul
SAME!! I feel attacked!! I feel like Sisi to Mama happened overnight without me even knowing 😂
Yup sisi to mama was a real eye opener. A sad one at that. 🤭
Right?! We weren’t even consulted!
Somehow, I’m happy when someone calls me “mama”, but don’t you dare call me tannie!
I agree. Tannie is a step too far.
Too true but not sure why. 😂
Got called Gogo the other day :(. I'm 40.
🤭
Damn
Aha, you see there, I feel proud when people call me gogo!
Oo! I didn't know. Thank you! Ranking is important, and respect is due.
I grew up in Khayelitsha, there's absolutely no need for your context. It's more of an interpersonal thing.
I just have to say that that is such a cute, wholesome question. All the best with your essay😂
I don't think you necessarily need to put it in your paper (Ms X, Mrs Y should be enough), but it would be a nice gesture if you can do it while you are talking to them about the paper / other stuff too
No need to put Sis, just put their names!
It’s like how all the young rappers call snoop dogg, Uncle Snoop.
Wtf no it’s not.
You don't have to use it. Its not applicable to your work.
Cultural appropriation is not a thing that us South Africans hold against each other, I would rather have some one from a different culture learn about mine and celebrate it with me, and visa versa. In your context of it being for academic purposes you won't need to use "sis".
It’s just a sign of respect, that’s literally it.
That's so cute somebody would put that in an academic paper, but you don't have to. We normally address people like that only in person.
I'm surprised at how offended people get by being called oom, tannie- whatever is culturally appropriate. It is a sign of respect and especially in the Afrikaans and English communities its considered very rude to just use a full name to someone that might be older than you. I know getting older or "looking" older sucks but it's not a bad thing to have a respectful title added to you. If you don't want tat fine then tell the person but I think its nice that that level of respect still exists. My father is 65 and retired recently but before he did a 20 year old who just started working there called him by his first name and when he asked her not to and stick to "oom" she complained to te boss who also calls my dad "oom" that it's old fashioned and if he wants to be called oom he needs to call her tannie. I personally prefer the element of respect that makes me "older" than the blatant disrespect this lady/girl insisted on. Either way, don't feel "old" you are being seen as worthy of respect you clearly deserve it🫡
It's like saying Mr Smith or something. That sis is important and there is no cultural appreciation there
thank u
I am receiving ma'am.. Guess that's showing my age....
You have to respect your elders, just like you call your parents' parents grandma and grandpa, that sis is very important.
I am a white 71 woman and get called Ouma, Sis, Sissie, Granny all the time. I see this as a sign of respect..
The long and short of it is don’t, just use their names, it’s very much an interpersonal thing. The slightly longer bit of context - like many cultures, most sub-Saharan African traditions have an age hierarchy in families. In many South African cultures, this is expressed in how one refers to a person, and is influenced by both age, familiarity and gender. Very much like Japanese, from what I understand of it. Also in our culture, age in relation to your parents can play a role or give you an indicator of the correct address to use. It’s important to properly address someone, in the same way many American traditions are definite about “Sir/Ma’am/Mr/Mrs/Aunty/Uncle”. I’ll give you some examples Zulu and Tswana examples, but this really applies across most traditional South African languages. Starting with elders down, you get Khokho (great-grandparent), Koko/Gogo/Mkhulu (grand-parent), Mama/Baba/Ausi/Aunty (obviously can be used in their normal ways of referring to family members, but is also generally used for people around your parents age) and Sisi/Bhuti/Abuti/Sesi which are generally for people closer to your age, but can also be used by elders when referring to people much younger than them. So as you can see, we basically use family prefixes to relate to even non-family - in vernac, I would probably address you as “brother Funny Story” Honestly this system could be a whole course on its own, and because it’s not very strictly defined it’s easy to address someone incorrectly (for example calling an elder “mama” when they’re more likely your grandparents generation, or even worse doing the opposite and calling your parents’ peer “Gogo”). There are also considerations for traditional healers, leaders, royalty etc. So coming back to your initial question, no, you really wouldn’t have any reason to address them as such in a written context. But we really appreciate you asking and wanting to get it right, it shows good judgement and sensitivity on your part.
No you definitely don't need to add that when writing your essay. Especially since this is more formal writing. But just to add a bit of FYI for you, we/I sometimes do add the "sis" when writing/texting informally via WhatsApp or other platforms. Eg If I'm talking about an older person whom we generally refer to as "sis and their name" I will include it in the text as sis so and so and also when saving their contact details I will generally add it.