subject: Yes Maam And No Maam Mentality [print this page] The Old World Yes Maam and No Maam Custom of answering with more than just a yes or no has not died here Square Cow Moovers. You dont find many people out there who know how to not only answer questions but answer with respect anymore. But where did the Yes Maam and No Maam customs begin and where has it gone?
Yes Maam is short for Madam, it is a sign of respect to answer in this manner, it is the English version of what the French call Madame (a married French woman), and in England the term is used when addressing a queen or royal princess. In the 1600s it was used in most areas when addressing a married woman.
You dont often hear yes maam and no maam anymore, its more like ya, or hugh, what and fine, none of these responses show respect do they? Well, every now and then you find a family or company or even better a family run company that still holds dear that old world mentality of yes maam respect. Thats when you know you hit the jack pot in the company you are using, and not just the company you are using but the company you are surrounding yourself with.
The importance of grammar etiquette seems to be depleting through the years, this is an extremely sad issue. It is more important than you may realize to speak with grace, etiquette and overall respect, this is the first impression you give someone, and you want to make sure it counts. We are all judged on the way that we speak, just like how people know where you come from by your accent, people can guess youre up-brining by your etiquette, or lack thereof.
Now there are people who will tell you to never use the term, Yes Maam, but I do not agree with it! This old custom of respecting your elders, Maam being short for Madam, just like you would say Yes Sir, is a long loved form of respectful etiquette. Dont get me wrong, I can see why some would choose against it, being that in the day a Madam was a woman who ran a whorehouse. But keep in mind, a lot of the Madams back them were also well respected women who were not spoken badly about. And unless you are completely uneducated, any man or woman respectfully responding with a yes maam comment is not secretly calling that woman anything disrespectful!
