なっ at the start of a sentence


The parents are comparing themselves to comedy characters:

> Father:「 **なっ** 長さん」  
>  Narrator: 長さんと言われたお母さんはにがりきった顔になった。  
>  Father: ??  
>  Narrator: Mum, who had been called Chou, made a bitter face.

I can only imagine that なっ is a contraction of あなたは but that seems to be a bit
of a stretch. What is the correct interpretation, and when is it appropriate
to use it?




> 「なっ」＝「な」＝「なあ」

Among those, 「なあ」 would be the "dictionary" form.

This is an **_interjection_** that is often used to address a person or call
someone's attention.

**_One thing Japanese-learners should remember is that we only use this
interjection with people who we know well and who are equals or below us in
age and/or social status_**.

You do not use it with your boss, a stranger, etc. under normal circumstances.
You would sound very rude if you did.




> 「なっ」＝「な」＝「なあ」

Among those, 「なあ」 would be the "dictionary" form.

This is an **_interjection_** that is often used to address a person or call
someone's attention.

**_One thing Japanese-learners should remember is that we only use this
interjection with people who we know well and who are equals or below us in
age and/or social status_**.

You do not use it with your boss, a stranger, etc. under normal circumstances.
You would sound very rude if you did.

