English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Ma or Madam?
I was gifted a car by my boss and I screamed “thank you, ~ma~” many times (nonstandard).
I was gifted a car by my boss and I screamed “thank you, *madam*” many times (standard).
People say Madam as a very formal and polite way of addressing a woman whose name they do not know or a woman of superior rank.
Although “ma” is used as a politeness marker for every female adult in Nigeria, dictionaries give the meaning as one’s mother:
My old *ma* will never allow that. ✔️
Ma is also used as a title for an old woman:
*Ma* Pedro is so kind. ✔️
GAB
