Address in italian academic interactions: The power of distance and (non)-reciprocity

The chapter offers a detailed description of address practices in Italian academic interactions, relying upon questionnaires that reflect the reported usage of address forms by students and lecturers. Data reveal that the reciprocal use of V-form Lei is the main strategy to convey respect and distance. In contrast, reciprocal T-form Tu is never reported, most likely because deemed too informal and inappropriate in the educational context. Non-reciprocal usage of pronouns (Lei-Tu) and the combination of lexical forms encoding various degrees of social distance (names, titles, honorifics) are also a frequent practice. Address non-reciprocity is perceived as the natural reflection of different roles and age, and is often regarded as a positive increase in familiarity within the dyad that puts students at ease inside and outside class.