Questions of politeness and respect with regards to forms of address are a social aspect that occurs in many social situations. Different issues of politeness and respect deal with situations in which one can "save face" or in order to be pleasant or respectful. A persons social position is often indicated by a particular form of address. Typically Americans use first name, title and last name, or kin term. But with a country so vast no single system of address occurs across the board. First name usually occurs with speakers of similar age and social status. Title and last name usually occurs in formal exchanges, but when one speaker is addressed by first name and the other rank and last name, it is usually due to a significant difference in age, social, or occupational status. This similar situation occurs in the education field between students and professors. Why does this occur? Could it be the differences in social rank, age, gender, occupational status, or respect? "Educational setting provide excellent demonstration of the role of hierarchy in allocating rights to direct encounters. Authority of teachers in the classroom is not only based on their institutional position but is further compounded by the status of age and often as well by that of class"(Bonvillain 371). A whole different situation arises in the college classroom. Often the educator and the student can be close in age creating a smaller gap between the two, and yet this small gap must be ignored due to formality. In the elementary or secondary classroom there is little room for negotiation. Whereas this situation is less frequent in the college classroom. Here we see more discussions which are open to opinion and debate. Does this mean we do not listen to our young until we feel that have something possibly valuable to say? Either way there is ambiguity for the college student as for how to address their professors, instructors, etc.

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