Having lived in America for about 15 years, I thought I had used English for quite a long time, but sometimes I find myself wondering what this is all about.

One of those moments is the expression 'your honor.' At first, I thought it was a term only used for judges. When you see courtroom scenes in TV dramas or news, they always say, "Yes, your honor."

So I thought that phrase was exclusive to the courtroom, meant only for judges, and that no one else should use it. However, as I lived here, I found that people also address mayors as 'your honor,' use it in official city council meetings, and even use it naturally with people who are not judges. The range of usage for 'your honor' in America is broader than I expected.

The most representative context is, of course, the courtroom. When speaking to a judge, it is almost always 'your honor.' Lawyers, prosecutors, defendants, and witnesses all say "Yes, your honor" or "No, your honor" when speaking directly to the judge. They do not use names or titles; this one expression unifies the address. It strongly signifies respect for the institution of the court rather than for the individual.

The second context is when a judge attends official events outside the courtroom. For example, at city events, ceremonies, or public hearings, when a judge takes the podium to speak, the host or official speaker often still addresses them as 'your honor.' While they could say "Judge [Name]," traditionally, 'your honor' is a more formal expression.

The third context is when addressing mayors or city council chairs in some local government official meetings. Particularly in city council minutes or formal statements, there are still cities that use 'your honor' for mayors. This is closer to the practices of each city rather than federal law, so some cities use it while others do not. Therefore, when you first encounter it, you might think, "Huh? They're not even a judge?" and feel confused.

The fourth context is in legal documents or official minutes. Even if it is used less in actual conversation, 'your honor' still appears in recorded documents. Especially in court transcripts or official city council records, it is neatly preserved.

Conversely, there are clear cases where it is not used. It is not used for police, prosecutors, or lawyers. Addressing governors, federal representatives, or mayors in private settings as 'your honor' can feel awkward. If used in emails or casual conversations, it is almost always interpreted as an exaggerated joke or satire.

In Korea, the term 'Excellency' is now rarely used. There was a time when presidents or high-ranking generals were addressed as 'Excellency,' but using that expression now would cause an uproar in news comments. People say it is too authoritative or outdated. It has become normal for politicians and public officials to be addressed by their titles, and the language has become much flatter.

However, in America, despite saying there are no kings or nobles, I don't understand why the language still carries a noble society scent. 'Your honor'—the word 'honor' itself feels too grand. From the perspective of an ordinary housewife managing kids' homework and grocery shopping, it feels even more so.

When someone at a city council meeting raises their voice over parking issues, the moment they grab the microphone, it suddenly feels like they become a symbol of 'honor.' In Korea, if you called a mayor "Excellency," it would immediately be newsworthy, but here it is just part of daily life, which is quite strange.

Upon reflection, it seems this is because American culture values position over the individual. It is more about what position you hold than who you are as a person. Therefore, regardless of personal feelings or human aspects, titles attached to positions are respected as they are. The way to express that happens to be 'your honor.' While Korea has moved towards relinquishing authority by discarding the term 'Excellency,' America still seems to hold onto authority quite dearly based on language.

Interestingly, Americans also do not think deeply about this term. They do not use it with the real meaning of "This person is a noble embodiment of honor;" they just use it out of habit. Just like how in Korea, people say "Thank you for your hard work" without considering its meaning. Still, foreigners can see all of this. They wonder why such outdated expressions are still alive and well.

The conclusion is that Korea has discarded the term 'Excellency,' while America still clings to 'your honor.' It's not about who is right or wrong, but rather that they are taking different paths.

So, while grumbling, it seems that saying "Yes, your honor" becomes part of life in America.