Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

From discourse to social contexts | 229

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Terms of kinship and endearment

117b

Family terms include mother (usually formal), mum, mam, mummy (to refer to a

mother), father (usually formal), dad, daddy, pappa (to refer to a father), pops,

granpa

, granpy, gramps (to refer to a grandfather), gran, granma, nana, nan (to

refer to a grandmother), bruv (a brother), sis (a sister), cuz (a cousin). Such

vocatives indicate degrees of intimacy and closeness between speakers:

I’ll tell you what, 

mum, you’re going to be a bit cross about it.

You can lend me five pounds, can’t you 

sis?

Terms of endearment include: darling, dear, poppet (usually to a little child), love,

luvvie

, sweetheart. They may combine with names:

Can you put the coffee on, 

sweetheart?

Mike, love, could you take this out to the back yard for me. Ta.