What’s in a name, what’s in a title.
According to Wikipedia, “A title is one or more words used before or after a person’s name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the first and last name. Some titles are hereditary.”
It is commonly used to set a person aside from all others, so therefore we know who we are addressing or who we are talking about. The title of a book sets the book aside from all others. A gripping title makes you want to read the book. But let’s keep it for this article on titles of people.
In our society we have so many titles from ……common titles like Mr, Mrs etc. to familiar titles: uncle, aunt, niece and nephew. Aristocratic titles as prince, princes, king and queen. Legislative and Executive titles: premier, minister, ambassador, delegate, secretary of state. Military titles: major, sergeant, colonel etc. Even in the Church we don’t escape titles: reverend, bishop, priest, minister, pastor, teacher etc. and so we can go on and on and on. There are too many titles to mention. But to know what they mean or what their function is we need a dictionary to explain it to us.
How do titles affect us – Does the use of titles give a person status in society? Or is it merely an identification of sorts. Most titles are given on the basis of something achieved, either through studies or as a promotion in a job going from a worker to a team leader etc. climbing up the corporate ladder. Most titles also give an increase in authority and responsibility. Think of the military where a higher rank means more responsibility/authority, the same in the health sector, for example in a hospital, where the nurse unit manager (NUM) has more authority /responsibility than a registered nurse (RN), in turn a RN has more authority and responsibility than for instance a carer or an assistant in nursing (AIN). Sometimes this authority and responsibility is abused or misused. We can all recall bullies in the workplace. The taking of a title does not allow one to compel others to endow honour, prestige and even wealth regardless of that person’s true value!
What value do we put on these titles: Example ….(fill in the Name of the person.)… General Practitioner (GP) and thereafter a list of titles which this particular GP has achieved throughout his/her lifetime through extra studies. Sometimes we need a dictionary to find out what they all mean. It shows mostly his speciality in the medical field. Does this make the person more valuable? Yes and no, it gives greater weight in the field in which they have specialised, but of no consequence otherwise. Therefore titles may set people aside for a specific task or function, so society may function better.
