Editing Dysphemism (section)

=== Name dysphemism ===
When a person uses another's name rather than an appropriate kinship term or title of address.{{Clarify|reason=incomplete sentence|date=March 2015}} The speaker uses a more casual or lower style than is appropriate given the social context.
* "Peter, what are you doing?" (rather than "Dad"/"Father")
* "How are you doing, Bill?" (rather than "Uncle Bill")

Many languages, to a greater extent than in English, indicate respect with verb tenses and thus provide more scope for such dysphemism and require care by non-native speakers to avoid causing offence by unintentional dysphemism.

This use of language may not constitute dysphemism if the choice of words used by the speaker is welcomed by the listener, such as a father who prefers being called by his given name as opposed to "Dad"/"Father". In that case it would appeal to the listener's positive face rather than damage it and would thus not be a dysphemism.

Similarly, being more formal with someone than expected may be a type of dysphemism. For example, if a child usually calls their father "dad" or "papa", calling him "father" may be a way of offending or antagonizing him, through coldness or distance (in other words, one might formally refer to one's father as "father," but when speaking to him one would use a particularly endearing term,) or that he is merely his role, if a child usually called "Billy" is addressed by a parent as "William".

Dysphemism may also be indicated by the disuse or substitution of someone's name or title. For instance, someone named Teresa who made overstated claims for a company-paid trip could be described as "the little witch who charmed the boss into approving that phony expense report".

Anger or dissatisfaction with the listener (or group of people) may compel a speaker to use a name dysphemism or term of address dysphemism.<ref name="E & D" />