In the American context, ‘Aunt’ and ‘Uncle’ are titles reserved for siblings of our parents or for the partners of those siblings. Clear and simple. In Asian families, however, things are a bit different. Here, ‘Auntie’ and ‘Uncle’ are terms of respect for anyone who is around your parents’ age. Yes, you read that right. Your next-door neighbor? Auntie. Your dad’s best friend? Uncle. The woman selling fruit down the street? Probably Auntie.
But why? It’s a matter of respect and courtesy, but it’s also deeply rooted in the notion of community as an extension of family.