tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909867752899675775.post6591287166802732014..comments2020-01-10T03:07:23.484+08:00Comments on A Mummy in a Strange Land: What's in A Name - Part TooBLWChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15125222924808203732noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6909867752899675775.post-69944853037350199132011-02-18T17:33:22.590+08:002011-02-18T17:33:22.590+08:00Two things:
1) You all are just so darn good-looki...Two things:<br />1) You all are just so darn good-lookin'! It's almost suspicious...<br />2) Now, since you know my last name, you'll know this is by no means objective, but I have to disagree with keeping names simple. I get on my soapbox for the anglicisation and/or simplification of names. <br /><br />Couple of thoughts:<br />- The kids with "different" names (first or last) that I went to school with were more gregarious. Had to be, and from the moment first roll call was read. Not a bad thing!<br />- Who exactly got to make the call that names must be 1) in lowest common denominator English and 2) no more than three syllables?<br />- Specific to Hong Kong--as much fun as people have with their handles (and we have reading/hearing them), why is it that Chinese people living in China (as we are, after all) need an English name, exactly? Isn't it the courteous thing to do to learn to pronounce Chinese names?<br />- Names come from places, have stories. First, how interesting to hear those two sentences about them! Second, recognising that there are many reasons for changing/"normalising" a name, some heavy indeed, it is a loss when that little thread of history is cut, however small. <br />- It's a little bit of global education to have to learn a unfamiliar name. Like travel for your tongue and mind. I find it quite curious that to find the same folks who extoll the virtue of international living, travel and schooling inform me on our first meeting that "I'm not even going to attempt your last name; I'll just call you M...(my first name)." I beg your pardon? Or call my husband, J...-C... (French compound first name) "Jay-Ceee". (For the record, he doesn't mind.) <br />- It's character education too, on both sides. For the one wearing the name, a chance to stand fast and encourage someone to learn, ("Actually, I prefer you call me __full name__, here's how to pronounce it..."). And for the one faced with the name, a chance to practise humility and learn something ("Can you please help me pronounce this correctly? Where is that name from?")<br /><br />So I say, B, bring on the tricky names! Up with tonal names! Long may the long ones live, er... long!<br /><br />For those who know me: Don't argue with me, people. I'll take out a couple more vowels and add in the true accents on my name and then you'll be in trouble! :))MonGuzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10104380994404882073noreply@blogger.com