teachers' personal lives / ''Madam''

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 190347



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, KEN ADAMS <kenadams705 at ...> wrote:

Ken:
> The prefix Madam is commonly used in British English as a term of respect
> towards a lady, so that a schoolchild would be expected to refer to a teacher as
> madam. This applies whether the lady is married or not hence Madam Maxine. 

Geoff:
I'm not sure which part of the UK you are in but in my experience - both as 
a pupil and as a teacher in the London area - female teachers are referred
to either as just "Miss" or by their full title "Mrs. Smith" or "Miss Jones". At
Hogwarts, it is normal to use their qualification of "Professor" where that is
the case. I had a teacher at my grammar school who was addressed as
Dr. Cavell.

Ken:
> In the case of Madam Malkin it would no doubt indicate respect for an accomplished
> robe maker who also had the acumen to hold a business together, the same would
> apply to Madam Rosmerta. A shop assistant especially in a more quality shop
> would be expected to refer to a female customer as madam, as in those shoes fit
> you very well Madam do you know they are on a special offer this week. It is
> thus perfectly possible for a Mrs Bloggs to also be referred to as Madam Bloggs,
> especially in a school setting. 

Geoff:
As per my previous comment, the assistant would only refer to the customer 
as "Madam" without the family name. Otherwise if the assistant knows the 
name of the customer, a similar situation to the teaching pattern obtains. The 
usage for the owner or manageress of a shop is as you outline. I presume that
Madam Hooch is given this courtesy title because she is not a Professor.

Ken:
> This may be more familiar to American readers in its commonly shortened form of
> Maam. It really is very common in Britain.

Geoff:
Interestingly, I believe that where people have to meet the Queen, they are told 
that, for the first time they speak top her, they call her "Your Majesty" but, after 
that, they use "Ma'am".