What do you call...

VydorScope · 08-13-2012, 05:01 PM

Ok, So say I have character named Patty who is married to someone named James. Patty has a brother named Bill. I know that makes James, Bill's brother in law. That is easy, but if James has a father named Doug, what is Doug's relation to Bill? Father in law seems like the logical fit, but I do not think I have ever heard that used that way?

carld · 08-13-2012, 05:08 PM

There's no recognized relationship that I know of. Informally he might be called an Uncle, I suppose.

Ntsimp · 08-13-2012, 05:54 PM

I've met the fathers-in-law of my sisters, but I barely know them. There's no relationship there. If there exists a language with a specific kinship term for that, it must be in a culture very different from mine.

QuantumIguana · 08-13-2012, 06:03 PM

Techically, there's no relationship there at all. Your sister's husband's father isn't your father-in-law, at least not officially. There might be an actual social relationship there, even if there is no legal relationship. It really depends on the people involved. If Bill is close to Patty's father-in-law, Bill might use the term father-in-law even if it doesn't technically apply, just as some people might use aunt and uncle for people who aren't technically your aunts and uncles.

Andrew H. · 08-13-2012, 10:08 PM

There's not an actual relationship. I would probably say "My sister's father-in-law."

08-13-2012, 05:01 PM	#1
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 2,616 Karma: 28692326 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color	What do you call... Ok, So say I have character named Patty who is married to someone named James. Patty has a brother named Bill. I know that makes James, Bill's brother in law. That is easy, but if James has a father named Doug, what is Doug's relation to Bill? Father in law seems like the logical fit, but I do not think I have ever heard that used that way? __________________ Vincent My Books on: Smashwords and Amazon My E-Book Series homepage: http://losttalesofpower.com All of my books are available DRM free through Smashwords.

08-13-2012, 10:08 PM	#5
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,049 Karma: 5907318 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	There's not an actual relationship. I would probably say "My sister's father-in-law." __________________ Oceania: We Have Always Required Books From the Eurasian E-Bookstore to Be Sold Through Our In-App Purchasing System - John Gruber

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08-13-2012, 05:08 PM	#2
carld Wizard Posts: 2,649 Karma: 3273499 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, Droid Razr Maxx HD	There's no recognized relationship that I know of. Informally he might be called an Uncle, I suppose.

08-13-2012, 05:54 PM	#3
Ntsimp Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 516400 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Utah Device: iriver Story HD	I've met the fathers-in-law of my sisters, but I barely know them. There's no relationship there. If there exists a language with a specific kinship term for that, it must be in a culture very different from mine.

08-13-2012, 06:03 PM	#4
QuantumIguana Wizard Posts: 1,459 Karma: 14424170 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle	Techically, there's no relationship there at all. Your sister's husband's father isn't your father-in-law, at least not officially. There might be an actual social relationship there, even if there is no legal relationship. It really depends on the people involved. If Bill is close to Patty's father-in-law, Bill might use the term father-in-law even if it doesn't technically apply, just as some people might use aunt and uncle for people who aren't technically your aunts and uncles.


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