[PW] Names for relatives

[Barbara Bussart]

Negative evidence of parents, but Ann Landers said that 2 men who married
sisters were considered two men who married sisters, not inlaws.  It seems
to be the same concept.  Two sets of parents whose children married.


husband - sister        sister - husband
parents                         parents
         |__________________|                                  bride
---------------groom




http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/relation.htm#Inlaw

The siblings-in-law:

   - Al is Bonnie's brother-in-law (definition 2), and Bonnie is Al's
   sister-in-law (definition 1);
   - Betty is Calvin's sister-in-law (definition 1), and Calvin is
   Betty's brother-in-law (definition 2).

So much is agreed. The question is, are Al and Calvin brothers-in-law
(definition 3)? Someone once wrote to Ann Landers, the advice columnist,
describing this situation. Ann replied: "You are no relation; you are just
two men who married sisters." Though I agree with Ann on this one, I admit
that it's awkward for Al to refer to Calvin as "my wife's brother-in-law" or
"my sister-in-law's husband". Probably that's why Al might refer to Calvin
as "my brother-in-law".

Hope this helps!


On 11/3/07, Jocelyn Shaw <redfernshaw at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> This is my patron's question:  "Is there a term that is used to describe
> one
> set of parents to another in a marraige?  For instnace I have a mother and
> father in law as does my wife.  But, what if anything, do our parents call
> each other?  Parents in law, maybe? "
>
> I did a bit of googling, but couldn't come up with anything.  All the
> genie
> charts that I saw ignore inlaws.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jocelyn
>
>
>
> --
> Jocelyn Shaw
> Librarian
> Hackley Public Library
> 316 W Webster
> Muskegon MI 49440
>
> The Smartest Card. Get it. Use it.
> @ the Hackley Public Library
> _______________________________________________
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>



-- 
Barbara J. Bussart
Chief Information and Adult Services Librarian
Woonsocket Harris Public Library
303 Clinton St.
Woonsocket, RI 02895
401-767-4124 (voice)
401-767-4120 (fax)
http://www.woonsocketlibrary.org
barbarbt at gmail.com