Epistolary vocatives in Early Modern English

The article is devoted to the problem of the use of vocatives in Early Modern English epistolary discourse through the lens of sociocultural context. The main focus is on linguistic etiquette units of politeness, which are selected according to the social status of communicators, as well as their upbringing, age, gender, and prevailing emotional and ethical norms. The analysis is conducted using the correspondence of Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury. The article identifies two categories of vocatives: personal and impersonal. Impersonal forms, common in the 16th and 17th centuries, highlight the addressee’s status and maintain neutrality in communication. Within the Early Modern English epistolary tradition, personal vocatives include addresses by first name, surname, title, and affectionate and familiar forms that vary according to the social distance between the addresser and addressee. In addition, specific categories of vocatives, such as those expressing affection, family terms, familiarizers, affectionate forms, personal names, and honorifics, are considered as well.