When addressing royalty or dignitaries, why do we say "Your" Highness?
460882
we say "Your" Highness because they're higher in society than we commoners, we're reffering to their highness in rank.
381691
You're Welcome.  You're . . . is a contraction for You are.  The word, "Your" is the one that shows posession.
158011
"Your Highness"\n\nKing Olaf?
557007
Sweetheart, you put this question in the wrong category. Go look up what "royalty" means.
1124953
its wen u congradulate them or give them props
308778
In public and on all formal occasions, she is called Your/Her Majesty.  Naturally, in private, they call her grandma, or nanna, or whatever...
637448
The term of respect "Sir" is used when speaking to officers and civilian officials. Each sentence or statement should be either preceded or terminated with the word "Sir", but should not be used both before and after the statement. When speaking with a female officer, the term "Ma'am" instead of "Sir" is used.   \nhttp://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/9283/page4.html\n\nWhen speaking to a group of men you use the collective "gentlemen".  With women you use the collective "ladies".\n\nAll military personnel are addressed properly by their grade or title. Airman First Class Jones is correctly addressed as "Airman Jones." Master Sergeant Smith may be called "Master Sergeant Smith" or "Sergeant Smith," but should never be addressed "Hey, Sarge." Chief Master Sergeant Clifford will be called "Chief Clifford," never "Sergeant Clifford."\n\nOfficers senior to you may be addressed by their rank and last name, or as "Sir" or "Ma'am." To officers junior to you, use their rank or rank and last name. Rank has no sex and one of the most glaring blunders is to assume a ranking officer is a "he." A lieutenant is addressed officially as "Lieutenant." A Lieutenant Colonel is addressed as "Colonel." \nhttp://level2.cap.gov/Prof_Dev_Modules/cap_lesson_10/lesson10_html/lesson10.htm
151586
I think they are asking you if you prefer to be referred to as Ms, Miss, Mrs, or Mr
46524
You've got a pretty complete list here, I think.  I'll just add that I've also heard "youse" in a small town in Northwestern Ontario where I used to live.\n\nI guess my only comment in addition to what you've written above is that Standard English seems to be rare among European languages for having the same form for second person singular and plural.  The "deep-seated need" you mentioned is an obvious one: sometimes when you're talking to a group of people, it's hard to let them know if you're talking to just one of the group or the entire group when you say "you".  It happens all the time.\n\nA similar phenomenon to the one that you're describing also happened in Spanish some time ago with the creation of "usted", which is now used as the second-person singular formal form.  My understanding is that "usted" descended from the phrase "vuestra merced", meaning "your mercy" or "your grace".  The "vuestra" in this expression is a plural form and was originally used to address royalty (in English, for example, royalty has sometimes used plural forms like the "royal we").  Over time this form got shortened and was used for singular persons of all social classes.  So an originally plural form migrated to the singular in Spanish too.\n\nIsn't it interesting that language change can happen even on the aspects of language that we use so frequently, like the pronoun system?  No wonder I love it!\n\nToo bad the previous answerer thinks this is an example of "lazy" English.  I think this is an excellent example of a situation where "nonstandard" dialects are actually more precise than the standard option.
390048
Most retired military personal have had between 20 and 30 years of formality. That's a long time to deal with that sort of behavior...but usually the people who don't want to be called "sir" are Non-commissioned Officer Sargent's and so on.  They do not want to be confused with "Officers" non-coms work for a living...
349595
I think his question is "Do we remember to be respectful?". He is very right, but not only regarding the president. People hardly ever say "Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms." I got married last July and very seldom has anyone called me "Mrs". You defiantly don't hear the terms "maam" "madam" or "sir" often!
552212
I have always wondered the same thing. I thought i was the only one.  I think i usually say "your excused" or "uh-huh." I really donot know what to say without sounding funny.  That is not a silly question at all though.  I think it is a very good question.
319473
Yes; once a president they call them mister predident for life.  It is to honor the role they held at the time they were the active president.
605322
This is a toughie.\n\nIt seems to me that the only sociolinguistic situation in which a person can use this form of address is when a younger person is addressing an older person.  There are two example situations that spring to mind (1) your child's friend is addressing you or (2) a young child is addressing his/her teacher.\n\nIt is pretty common practice for children to address their teachers in this way, especially if the teacher has a long last name or the last name is hard to pronounce.  For example, I called my 5th-grade teacher "Mr. P".\n\nIf a child were using this form of address for his/her friend's mom, I would consider it less formal than using the whole name, but still respectful.
872824
You say "Tu eres" or "Tu estás" if you address an older person who you must respect then you say "Usted es" or Usted está".. ☺
464323
Depends on the context. If you intend to address somebody, you should say:\n\n'Dorogoy'  (man)   \n'Dorogaya' (woman) \n\nNormally the name of the person in question will follow.\nFor example:\n\n'Dorogoy Ivan'     \n'Dorogaya Yelena'\n\nIf you do not know the name or you are talking to someone you are closely acquainted with it is possible to add "me"\n \n'Dorogoy moy'     \n'Dorogaya moya'
412747
honorific is a word or expression that conveys esteem or respect and is used in addressing or referring to a person. "Honorific" may refer broadly to the style of language or particular words used, or, as in this article, to specific words used to convey honor to one perceived as a social superior. Sometimes the term is used not quite correctly to refer to a title of honour (honorary title).\n\nHonorifics are usually placed immediately before or after the name of the subject. They may also be used to denote occupation, such as "Doctor", "Father" (for a priest), or "Professor". Some honorifics can act as complete replacements for a name, as in "sir" or "ma'am". Subordinates will often use honorifics as punctuation before asking a superior a question or after responding to an order, "Yes, sir".\n\n\nHonorifics in various languages and cultures\nEnglish honorifics are usually limited to formal situations.\n\nJapanese honorifics are similar to English titles like "Mister" and "Miss," but in Japanese, which has many honorifics, their use is mandatory in many formal and informal social situations.\n\nKorean honorifics vary according to social distinction. The Korean language also distinguishes social differences with special noun and verb endings.\n\nIn Ancient Rome honorifics like Augustus turned into titles over time, see also: Template:Roman government.\n\nIndian honorifics abound, covering formal and informal relationships for social, commercial, spiritual and generational links. Honorifics may be prefix, suffix or replacement types. There are many variations across India. In Gujarati, for an uncle who is your mother's brother the replacement honorific "maama" (long 'a' then short 'a') is used and a male friend will often earn the suffix honorific of "bhai".\n\n\nOpposition\nPeople who have a strong sense of egalitarianism, such as Quakers and certain socialists, eschew honorifics. When addressing or referring to someone, they will use the person's name, an informal pronoun, or some other style implying social equality, such as "brother", "friend", or "comrade".