The usage in the UK of "call Doctor and ask about Baby" is, as said, informal spoken English. This kind of usage was very common in the early 20th century, but has an old-fashioned feel to it now. In the US, it would be regarded as very cutesy, and probably annoying. So don't have any American characters say it, unless they're back in about 1920!
"The wife" versus "my wife": in the US, this is common amongst white men of an older generation. It was regarded as slightly sexist and patronizing starting in the 1970s and 80s, and is now extremely sexist. I don't think it has that connotation in the UK; the very popular blog "The Wife In Space" is definitely not condescending.
Another term older men will use for their wives is "the little woman". This is also sexist and patronizing, and really annoys any woman under the age of 60 or 70.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2014-02-14 12:05 am (UTC)"The wife" versus "my wife": in the US, this is common amongst white men of an older generation. It was regarded as slightly sexist and patronizing starting in the 1970s and 80s, and is now extremely sexist. I don't think it has that connotation in the UK; the very popular blog "The Wife In Space" is definitely not condescending.
Another term older men will use for their wives is "the little woman". This is also sexist and patronizing, and really annoys any woman under the age of 60 or 70.