What is the plural of 'Mr' and 'Mrs'?

[OxfordBlues]

Why do you think I should read that book?

I too would understand the plural abbreviation Messrs. In fact as I mentioned above, it's an abbreviated form of the French Messiuers. However, you would be very hardpressed to find an average native English-speaker who refers to plural groups of men using that French honorarium. Likewise you'll rarely find some referring to a young male as Master.

There is possibe, allowable, and technically correct usage, and there is usage which is likely to result in common understanding and successful communication. In learning English which is the most apt form?
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[Jamie (K)]

[OxfordBlues]

Jamie, trust me, I'm from that top socioeconomic class you're speaking of. I've attended Harvard, have degrees from some of the top universities in the world, am well travelled, have owned several businesses, and have over 15 years experience in ESL.

I am likely as familiar with any standard speech pattern as anyone else you could find. I am however, realistic. And, while you may be happy claiming that a mostly archaic form is normal, it is not. In fact, the phone I am typing this on classes Messers. as an error (showing that it's not as widespread as you may think).

And finally, if you are going to use that form don't say it's messerz, because it's not.
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[Jamie (K)]

I was writing an accurate phonetic transcription in IPA of how educated Americans pronounce the abbreviation "Messrs." I wasn't writing the abbreviation in chat room spelling.

If you went to Harvard, I'm prone to thinking you have that mentality I typically find in people from there, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, etc. Most of these people arrogantly assume a lower level of intelligence and literacy in the people who are not part of that "club", and tend to limit what they give to students based on what they semi-consciously assume is their inferior level of intelligence. Some of them play the Great White Father and think it's their job to limit foreign ESL students' exposure to Anglophone culture, on the assumption that it will corrupt them. As in many other things, they don't trust regular people to make their own sound decisions with new knowledge, so they tend to limit the knowledge they will mete out.

The last Ivy League ESL teacher I had to manage (who just happened to be slumming) was truly unbearable in her unconscious arrogance. She would talk to foreign surgeons in the tone of voice normally used on children. I could tell her to stop it, but since I was "inferior" to her, she never listened. The funny thing about that type is that they think they're being friendly when they're being condescending.

[OxfordBlues]

Ok seriously? You're the one who keeps assuming things about me and about what I think of others.

As for your IPA transcription, it's still wrong. The only pronunciation that abbreviation represents is a French word borrowed into English along with a slew of other ettiquette terms. That word is Messieurs not messers. Anyone who does pronounce it as the latter is obviously ignorant of what it represents and should thus refrain from using it.

I was referred to as Master in school, yet I have the common sense not to use it in my everyday dealings today because it is antiquated, no longer in standard use, and often misunderstood.

In recommending which forms non-native learners should use, like caution should be exercised. Encouraging a learner to use Messers. in the 21st century is like encouraging them to use thou or wilt.
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