<i>Lao</i> (old) + surname: why do Chinese address non-old people with “old”?

Abstract Chinese frequently use lao (old) + surname when addressing others. Based on a dataset collected from the Chinese literature corpus, i.e. novels and plays, this study analyzes its referents and functions. Lao + surname is unmarkedly used to refer to elderly people as a sign for respect, intimacy, or informality. The findings reveal that lao + surname markedly refers to a teenager, a tool, or even a member of the younger generation addressing an elder, a Chinese person, or a non-Chinese person. Its marked use aims to establish or maintain social bonds, strengthen solidarity, or achieve an aha effect. The use of lao + surname indicates the speaker’s observation of the Address Maxim of Gu’s Politeness Principle by taking beifen (辈分) and weifen (位分) (roughly age status and position status respectively) into consideration. The aim of this study is to advance existing research into forms of address.