The etiquette of addressing persons

Dear Editor,

BEING new to Brunei, I am struck by how difficult it is for some of us from the Western countries to understand the names that people have and to use the correct form of address.

This is obviously an aspect of adapting to a new country and culture that takes time and practice.

However, I have also noticed that Western people are also not addressed correctly.

It might be of interest for your readers to note the following:

Westerners usually have two names a first name and a family name.

If there is a middle name then that is an addition and is never used.

So if my name is John Smith, my friends would call me John. My mother and family would call me John, but someone I had never met before would call me Mr Smith.

To use Mr John is incorrect.

If my name is John Alan Smith, then the same applies as above. The use of Alan is unheard of and neither Mr John Alan.

I hope that we can all address each other correctly.

John Smith