亲爱的小文：

    小孩子刚学说话，最先发的音也就是最容易发的音就是“爸”、“爹”、“妈”这些音，中外都是一样的。英文Pa或Papa或Dad或Daddy都是“父亲”（Father）的意思，但比Father亲热得多。所以你以后写信，不要写DearFather而该写DearDad，我附一封英文给爸爸信的样本在下面：

    June10

    DearDad,

    Theflowersarebeautiful!MotherandIwillenjoythematourtableforseveraldays,Iknow.Everythingissonewaing.IheardseveralFrenadianssingingtheirsongsastheystoodoernwavingtosomefriendsonthedock.Itislikeafnlandalready.Imallanticipationforthesummertoe.Ionlywishyoucouldbewithus.

    Love,andthankyouforthewonderfultripandfortheflowers.

    Joan

    但Mother这个字，却不像Father这个字这么正式，所以常和Mom或Ma或Mamma或Mama混用，我再附一段英文小说在下面：

    Daviewasdown.“M,Mother.M,Dad.”hesaidwiththatdefereesonasixteen-year-oldwhenhehassomethingtoaskfor,somethismuch.

    “Herereyourwaffles,Davie,”hismothersaid.“Four.”

    “Thatlldofiarton,”Daviesaid,andgrinnedupather.“Yousureslingawickedwaffle,Mom.”

    当然正式的说法都用Father，尤其成语里都是固定用Father的，如：

    Likefather,likeson.（有其父必有其子，子必肖其父，虎父无犬子，什么样的爸爸什么样的儿子。）

    Likemother,likedaughter.（也是一样的意思。）

    我再附一段用Daddy的例子：

    AsourI1-year-olddaughtersbirthdayapproached,sheletitbeknownthatthethiedmost,wasanautomaticrecordplayer.Weagreedtogiveittoheronditionthatshepromisetotakegoodcareofit.Shepromised,ofcourse.Butwehadnoideahowseriousshewasuntilonedaywhenmywifewastidyingherroomshefoundalistofrulesheaded：“HowToTakeyRecordPlayer.”

    Therulesincludedsuchthingsaskeepingthemae,gfortheneedleandsoon.Butthecherwasthelastruleofall.Itread：“Ifrecordplayergetsbroke,doDaddytry