As i've mentioned before, students and both teachers alike at the school i teach at have chosen "English names" for themselves as a way for them to be more easily identifiable by the foreign teachers [like myself] and so they can form some kind of identity and or bond within themselves as well as the language itself.
i find both of the reasons to be rather absurd, given the fact i have heard a very sad story of a Chinese friend moving to St. Louis as a fifth grader and being told to pick an English name so he could better "fit in" with his classmates. He went as the plain, vanilla "Eric" until he graduated from high school. It was only when he entered college, that he re- assumed his given Chinese name and probably a genuine sense of pride of being able to be his true self.
At any rate, i'm not quite sure how some of my students have gone about choosing their English name. i feel like it's my civic duty as a Korean-American to let them know what's up. So far, my favourites are: Axel, Ace, Mickey, (Mouse) Harry, (Potter...there have been girls named Harry as well, apparently gender does not pertain to literary heroes) Mario, (Brothers) Donny (dare i think...Osmand?) and Betty (Boop?). Hilarious. It's humorous to think that these names are down right ridiculous to my American ear without accounting for the pop culture reference. If there was a boy named Mickey in the States, i tend to think lots of black eyes awaited him in his ill-future. We also have a male administator at the office that dubbed himself, Pulitzer. Somehow, i think things like egos don't need any translating.
A name can be a defining personification of who someone ends up being in their adult life. It's quite amazing how this way of branding or labeling can affect and shape a person's character. Some are so fitting that there is no question whether or not they were meant to be an "Eve" or a "Dottie" [although, i'm sure someone would beg to differ].
Sometimes, i don't think parents give enough thought into how much trauma they've instantly bestowed or how they've sent their child up for life-long ridicule just by choosing the wrong moniker. What may seem "unique" or "trendy" to the name-giver, may not be seen in the same light by the receiver's peers. And trust me, traveling down the already- laborious and, at times treacherous road of life, is already a task for any child. You're just throwing another giant obstacle in their path; a constant reminder of an unfortunate, misguided, [although well-intentioned] permanent and primary parenting misstep.
i, myself, have struggled with my own name my adoptive parents gave me. My Dad always takes pride in naming me with a classic Irish epithet. Many people have noted that they think it suits me quite nicely and appropriately. It's not that i dislike it, there could be FAR worse things to be called in life. That being said, because of who i am on the physical, outside does not quite match the nice Euro-American tag. Because of my yellow outside and my "cream filling," [in the words of CJ] i have learned that i have the ablility to confuse people [white, Asian, and others] alike.
i find both of the reasons to be rather absurd, given the fact i have heard a very sad story of a Chinese friend moving to St. Louis as a fifth grader and being told to pick an English name so he could better "fit in" with his classmates. He went as the plain, vanilla "Eric" until he graduated from high school. It was only when he entered college, that he re- assumed his given Chinese name and probably a genuine sense of pride of being able to be his true self.
At any rate, i'm not quite sure how some of my students have gone about choosing their English name. i feel like it's my civic duty as a Korean-American to let them know what's up. So far, my favourites are: Axel, Ace, Mickey, (Mouse) Harry, (Potter...there have been girls named Harry as well, apparently gender does not pertain to literary heroes) Mario, (Brothers) Donny (dare i think...Osmand?) and Betty (Boop?). Hilarious. It's humorous to think that these names are down right ridiculous to my American ear without accounting for the pop culture reference. If there was a boy named Mickey in the States, i tend to think lots of black eyes awaited him in his ill-future. We also have a male administator at the office that dubbed himself, Pulitzer. Somehow, i think things like egos don't need any translating.
A name can be a defining personification of who someone ends up being in their adult life. It's quite amazing how this way of branding or labeling can affect and shape a person's character. Some are so fitting that there is no question whether or not they were meant to be an "Eve" or a "Dottie" [although, i'm sure someone would beg to differ].
Sometimes, i don't think parents give enough thought into how much trauma they've instantly bestowed or how they've sent their child up for life-long ridicule just by choosing the wrong moniker. What may seem "unique" or "trendy" to the name-giver, may not be seen in the same light by the receiver's peers. And trust me, traveling down the already- laborious and, at times treacherous road of life, is already a task for any child. You're just throwing another giant obstacle in their path; a constant reminder of an unfortunate, misguided, [although well-intentioned] permanent and primary parenting misstep.
i, myself, have struggled with my own name my adoptive parents gave me. My Dad always takes pride in naming me with a classic Irish epithet. Many people have noted that they think it suits me quite nicely and appropriately. It's not that i dislike it, there could be FAR worse things to be called in life. That being said, because of who i am on the physical, outside does not quite match the nice Euro-American tag. Because of my yellow outside and my "cream filling," [in the words of CJ] i have learned that i have the ablility to confuse people [white, Asian, and others] alike.
3 comments:
i once knew a mickey. i think maybe you met him? one new year's eve? i don't think he suffered many black eyes...
I love this entry. Very good insight and inquiry. I'm sure my brother has some thoughts on this, and I know that I have thought about this many times, as someone who is grateful for her given name but realizes that is not always the case for people. Also, my name I think truly suits me, but in terms of ethnic and cultural implications/impressions, I have surprised many a person. :-)
Our interpretation of other peoples names is just as insightful and revealing as the names we choose for ourselves-- like nicknames or the names we choose for our kids.
Fact is, all of us have either "adopted a different moniker" or "preconceived the identity of someone else" based on their name. Anyone claiming otherwise is a liar. You knew before you first met me in person, that I wasn't a natural blond and that's okay. I think it's important to realize this first. Too often, we try to ignore that we come from environments that teach us to distinguish apples from oranges, but only later in life do we differentiate clementines from tangerines. Thank the gods that you are their teacher. So inject your perspectives into them like a well oiled syringe. Muahhhhahahahah!
Not to mention, while I know from the bottom of the depths of my soul you are learning the language, you would slaughter those kids' names.
Alright, alright, I'm done picking on you. But thanks for awakening my dormant opinionated self, shelved for the sake of being deemed "socially acceptable"... just like that kid called Mickey or chick named Harry.
Post a Comment