vocative (adj./n.)

In LANGUAGES which express GRAMMATICAL relationships by means of INFLECTIONS, this term refers to the CASE FORM taken by a NOUN PHRASE (often a single noun or PRONOUN) when it is used in the function of address (including both ANIMATE and inanimate entities). English does not make use of the vocative case (‘the vocative’) inflectionally, but expresses the notion using an optional noun phrase, in certain positions, and usually with a distinctive INTONATION, as in Jane, are you ready?