Referring to uncle's wife as “aunt” vs. nephew's wife as “niece”
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I may be going out on a pragmatic/cultural limb here, but is there an asymmetry in the commonly accepted practice of referring to your uncle's wife as "aunt" but not referring to your nephew's wife as "niece".
If so, why is there an asymmetry? Deference to the older generation within a family? Is the spouse of a nephew/niece seem as less part of the family?
kinship-terms pragmatics
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I may be going out on a pragmatic/cultural limb here, but is there an asymmetry in the commonly accepted practice of referring to your uncle's wife as "aunt" but not referring to your nephew's wife as "niece".
If so, why is there an asymmetry? Deference to the older generation within a family? Is the spouse of a nephew/niece seem as less part of the family?
kinship-terms pragmatics
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
Niece has an interesting etymology since it was used at one point or another to refer to: "A female relative, esp. a cousin", "A granddaughter, or more remote female descendant", "A male relative, esp. a nephew" (OED). Only the last one seems to be still in use today, although it's restricted to African-American use.
– Laurel
Nov 29 at 20:35
Literally off the cuff I feel it is part age related as when young we are "given" names to use such as Aunt This or Uncle That. However as we become Aunts and Uncles ourselves we tend to say my nephews second partner who became my niece in law, or so much simpler by their first name.
– KJO
Nov 29 at 20:42
1
I would think this is obvious: the "aunt" was there ever since you were born. The nephew's wife is a new addition that takes some time getting used to.
– michael.hor257k
Nov 29 at 21:16
It’s an interesting observation. Aunts and uncles are either blood relatives (parent’s siblings) or the spouses of those selfsame blood relatives; but nephews and nieces are only blood relatives. It’s like that at least in most Western European languages as far as I can think, so it’s not just a case of English being asymmetrical. I’m not sure there’s any way to conclusively answer why this is so, though. History ended up with the words being used like that.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 29 at 21:17
3
I suggest that’s purely about culture and community, not English in particular nor even language in general I know so many people who always refer to nephews’ wives as “nieces”, anything else would seem rather perverse, at least outside official documents. Isn't this more about family customs?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:39
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I may be going out on a pragmatic/cultural limb here, but is there an asymmetry in the commonly accepted practice of referring to your uncle's wife as "aunt" but not referring to your nephew's wife as "niece".
If so, why is there an asymmetry? Deference to the older generation within a family? Is the spouse of a nephew/niece seem as less part of the family?
kinship-terms pragmatics
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
I may be going out on a pragmatic/cultural limb here, but is there an asymmetry in the commonly accepted practice of referring to your uncle's wife as "aunt" but not referring to your nephew's wife as "niece".
If so, why is there an asymmetry? Deference to the older generation within a family? Is the spouse of a nephew/niece seem as less part of the family?
kinship-terms pragmatics
kinship-terms pragmatics
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
asked Nov 29 at 20:16
Steven Solomon
6914
6914
Niece has an interesting etymology since it was used at one point or another to refer to: "A female relative, esp. a cousin", "A granddaughter, or more remote female descendant", "A male relative, esp. a nephew" (OED). Only the last one seems to be still in use today, although it's restricted to African-American use.
– Laurel
Nov 29 at 20:35
Literally off the cuff I feel it is part age related as when young we are "given" names to use such as Aunt This or Uncle That. However as we become Aunts and Uncles ourselves we tend to say my nephews second partner who became my niece in law, or so much simpler by their first name.
– KJO
Nov 29 at 20:42
1
I would think this is obvious: the "aunt" was there ever since you were born. The nephew's wife is a new addition that takes some time getting used to.
– michael.hor257k
Nov 29 at 21:16
It’s an interesting observation. Aunts and uncles are either blood relatives (parent’s siblings) or the spouses of those selfsame blood relatives; but nephews and nieces are only blood relatives. It’s like that at least in most Western European languages as far as I can think, so it’s not just a case of English being asymmetrical. I’m not sure there’s any way to conclusively answer why this is so, though. History ended up with the words being used like that.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 29 at 21:17
3
I suggest that’s purely about culture and community, not English in particular nor even language in general I know so many people who always refer to nephews’ wives as “nieces”, anything else would seem rather perverse, at least outside official documents. Isn't this more about family customs?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:39
add a comment |
Niece has an interesting etymology since it was used at one point or another to refer to: "A female relative, esp. a cousin", "A granddaughter, or more remote female descendant", "A male relative, esp. a nephew" (OED). Only the last one seems to be still in use today, although it's restricted to African-American use.
– Laurel
Nov 29 at 20:35
Literally off the cuff I feel it is part age related as when young we are "given" names to use such as Aunt This or Uncle That. However as we become Aunts and Uncles ourselves we tend to say my nephews second partner who became my niece in law, or so much simpler by their first name.
– KJO
Nov 29 at 20:42
1
I would think this is obvious: the "aunt" was there ever since you were born. The nephew's wife is a new addition that takes some time getting used to.
– michael.hor257k
Nov 29 at 21:16
It’s an interesting observation. Aunts and uncles are either blood relatives (parent’s siblings) or the spouses of those selfsame blood relatives; but nephews and nieces are only blood relatives. It’s like that at least in most Western European languages as far as I can think, so it’s not just a case of English being asymmetrical. I’m not sure there’s any way to conclusively answer why this is so, though. History ended up with the words being used like that.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 29 at 21:17
3
I suggest that’s purely about culture and community, not English in particular nor even language in general I know so many people who always refer to nephews’ wives as “nieces”, anything else would seem rather perverse, at least outside official documents. Isn't this more about family customs?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:39
Niece has an interesting etymology since it was used at one point or another to refer to: "A female relative, esp. a cousin", "A granddaughter, or more remote female descendant", "A male relative, esp. a nephew" (OED). Only the last one seems to be still in use today, although it's restricted to African-American use.
– Laurel
Nov 29 at 20:35
Niece has an interesting etymology since it was used at one point or another to refer to: "A female relative, esp. a cousin", "A granddaughter, or more remote female descendant", "A male relative, esp. a nephew" (OED). Only the last one seems to be still in use today, although it's restricted to African-American use.
– Laurel
Nov 29 at 20:35
Literally off the cuff I feel it is part age related as when young we are "given" names to use such as Aunt This or Uncle That. However as we become Aunts and Uncles ourselves we tend to say my nephews second partner who became my niece in law, or so much simpler by their first name.
– KJO
Nov 29 at 20:42
Literally off the cuff I feel it is part age related as when young we are "given" names to use such as Aunt This or Uncle That. However as we become Aunts and Uncles ourselves we tend to say my nephews second partner who became my niece in law, or so much simpler by their first name.
– KJO
Nov 29 at 20:42
1
1
I would think this is obvious: the "aunt" was there ever since you were born. The nephew's wife is a new addition that takes some time getting used to.
– michael.hor257k
Nov 29 at 21:16
I would think this is obvious: the "aunt" was there ever since you were born. The nephew's wife is a new addition that takes some time getting used to.
– michael.hor257k
Nov 29 at 21:16
It’s an interesting observation. Aunts and uncles are either blood relatives (parent’s siblings) or the spouses of those selfsame blood relatives; but nephews and nieces are only blood relatives. It’s like that at least in most Western European languages as far as I can think, so it’s not just a case of English being asymmetrical. I’m not sure there’s any way to conclusively answer why this is so, though. History ended up with the words being used like that.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 29 at 21:17
It’s an interesting observation. Aunts and uncles are either blood relatives (parent’s siblings) or the spouses of those selfsame blood relatives; but nephews and nieces are only blood relatives. It’s like that at least in most Western European languages as far as I can think, so it’s not just a case of English being asymmetrical. I’m not sure there’s any way to conclusively answer why this is so, though. History ended up with the words being used like that.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 29 at 21:17
3
3
I suggest that’s purely about culture and community, not English in particular nor even language in general I know so many people who always refer to nephews’ wives as “nieces”, anything else would seem rather perverse, at least outside official documents. Isn't this more about family customs?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:39
I suggest that’s purely about culture and community, not English in particular nor even language in general I know so many people who always refer to nephews’ wives as “nieces”, anything else would seem rather perverse, at least outside official documents. Isn't this more about family customs?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:39
add a comment |
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
draft saved
draft discarded
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
draft saved
draft discarded
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f474991%2freferring-to-uncles-wife-as-aunt-vs-nephews-wife-as-niece%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Niece has an interesting etymology since it was used at one point or another to refer to: "A female relative, esp. a cousin", "A granddaughter, or more remote female descendant", "A male relative, esp. a nephew" (OED). Only the last one seems to be still in use today, although it's restricted to African-American use.
– Laurel
Nov 29 at 20:35
Literally off the cuff I feel it is part age related as when young we are "given" names to use such as Aunt This or Uncle That. However as we become Aunts and Uncles ourselves we tend to say my nephews second partner who became my niece in law, or so much simpler by their first name.
– KJO
Nov 29 at 20:42
1
I would think this is obvious: the "aunt" was there ever since you were born. The nephew's wife is a new addition that takes some time getting used to.
– michael.hor257k
Nov 29 at 21:16
It’s an interesting observation. Aunts and uncles are either blood relatives (parent’s siblings) or the spouses of those selfsame blood relatives; but nephews and nieces are only blood relatives. It’s like that at least in most Western European languages as far as I can think, so it’s not just a case of English being asymmetrical. I’m not sure there’s any way to conclusively answer why this is so, though. History ended up with the words being used like that.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Nov 29 at 21:17
3
I suggest that’s purely about culture and community, not English in particular nor even language in general I know so many people who always refer to nephews’ wives as “nieces”, anything else would seem rather perverse, at least outside official documents. Isn't this more about family customs?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:39