Intimität und Geschlecht. Zur Syntax und Pragmatik der Anrede im Liebesbrief des 20. Jahrhunderts

The traditional dichotomy between the public and the private (and so far the intimate) lacks a distinct conceptual foundation. Nevertheless, addressing in love letters seems a crucial place for codes of intimacy. The analysis of addressing shows not only its ritual character but also different gender performances it implies. The forms of addressing follow gendered selections according to the variety and the amount of intimate names. Male gendering shows less variety and fewer intimate names than female gendering. This has been changing in the last three decades. Male gender perfomance is approaching the female. This makes clear that apparently general codification features are not only influenced by historical changes but are also following gender performances.