I have been following the series of letters that were sent to this newspaper following Daphne Caruana Galizia’s article Hawn x’ismek (TMID, 9 October).

One point I would like to make is that we have two parts of the same problem. On the one hand, we seem to have little respect towards people we do not know, and by trying to be over-friendly in the way we address them we make things worse.

I do not think that people who hardly know each other should use words like “xbin” and “hi”. I do not think that acquaintances, even workmates, should use words like “qalbi” and “sweet” when they call each other – it is too intimate, and such expressions should be used only by people who have an intimate relationship. People who use such expressions either need love or to be loved, or perhaps have ulterior motives.

We should address each other by the first name if we know each other, and use Mr, Mrs or Miss with people we do not know. It is only by doing this that we would be showing respect.

Anna Zammit

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