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Why Words Like Sir And Ma’am Aren’t Used In Sweden
In 1967 Bror Rexed, the newly-appointed head of the National Board of Health and Welfare, gave a speech to the staff that would permanently and irrevocably change social life in Sweden. I’m no historian, but I doubt there are many speeches in Swedish history that have had such a profound and lasting impact on this country — it was largely this speech that kicked off what has since been known as the “Thou Reform”.
Background
Before 1967, Sweden was a lot like other contries in that its citizens used various titles and honorifics when addressing one another. People often used job titles when talking to someone; instead of asking your house guest “Would you like some more coffee,” it was common to say “Would the teacher like some more coffee?”
However, there was a practice called “lägga bort titlarna” which translates to “putting the titles away.” When people became close friends after having known each other for a long time, one party could say “We’ve been colleagues for 10 years now, don’t you think it’s time we put the titles away and started saying you to each other?”
Bror Rexed’s speech and how it made such a difference
In his speech to the staff given when he started his new job as head of the National Board of…
