The Correlation between the Proper Name and Social Status in Russian and Indonesian Society

This article analyzes the structure of the greetings addressed to a person in Russia and Indonesia, particularly in Minangkabau (West Sumatera) to reveal the correlation between the name and social status of a person. The dependence of the social status on a number of factors including age, marital status, responsibilities, etc. finds its expression in the calls the communicants use while addressing each other, and the analysis of the ways people address each other in different societies helps to state the factors affecting the social status of a person.