Those names...

hello all...erika talked a bit about this in her presentation, but i think this is helpful reminder to us...why do we call each other by either one name or their first and second? how is that showing our relationship to that character? Are we calling them a nick-name? Our our conversations formal? Trying to figure out the process behind calling Trigorin: Boris Alexeevich Trigorin, and not shortening it.
-caitlin

Every Russian name consists of three names: a first (given) name, a patronymic name and a surname:
First name

The first name is given by parents shortly afer the child's birth. Accordingly to Russian laws child can change the name after majority. The first name is the main name of Russian people. Most of Russian names have a variety of forms. For example, name Mikhail (the first name of the First President of Russian Federation). The full form Mikhail is used in formal relationships, in official documents (passport, birth certificate, contracts). The short nameMisha is used by friends and family members. Affectionate form Mishenka, Mishunya is used by parents, grandparents. And rude form Mishka is impolite.

Patronymic name

Russian patronymic name is derived from father's name according to rule:
Russian male patronymic name forms by adding ending -evich, -ovich. (Nikolaevich, Mikhailovich). For example, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. Tha name of Lev Tolstoy's father was Nikolay, so the Lev Tolstoy's patronymic name is Nikolaevich.
Russian female patronymic name forms by adding ending -ovna, -evna. (Nikolaevna, Mikhailovna). For example, Raisa Maximovna Gorbacheva. Tha name of Raisa Gorbavheva's father was Maxim, so the Raisa's patronymic name is Maximovna.

Russians used First and Patronymic Name in formal relationships, with unfamiliar people, with doctors, teachers, lecturers, older members of family, directors, leaders and other respected people (ex. Vladimir Vladimirovich, Lev Nikolaevich, Fedor Mikhailovich).