Gnashing of Teeth!
This one bugs the living jesus out of me! I have made the acquaintance now of so many immigrants to Toronto who give an "English name" when you ask them what their name is. An english name? I have asked the question of Cambodians, Koreans, Colombians, and Venezuelans, among others, and received that kind of answer. It made me wonder why, right from the very first time I heard it, and right from the very first time I got the answer, it has annoyed me no end. Almost immediately, in their new life here in Canada, these people encounter native-born Canadians who tell them that their names are "too hard to say", and then proceed to alter them, usually without even asking for the permission of the person they are treating with such peremptory lack of respect. I have witnessed the whole disgusting display of North American arrogance being played out in school many times through my years in the system.
In one instance, a former colleague found herself teaching a boy called Jorge. (Pronounce the both the J and the G as an H, and split it into syllables between the R and the G. There you have it.) It simply is NOT too difficult a name to pronounce, but she declared that she could not imagine him wanting "to be stuck with a moniker like that" and began to call him George. It was wrong of her to do that. I know of schools where some of the paperwork sent home with a newly registered student includes the question "What english name would you like your son/daughter to be called?" It is wrong of the schools to do that. What makes these people think it is OK for them to strike at the sense of self-worth of these new-comers at so very basic a level as their given names? A person's name is their identity. A child grows up knowing themselves to be Jui Yung, or Sonnari. The name becomes inextricably tied into their self-consciousness. Then, they come to Canada and one of the first things they learn is that their name is no longer good enough to be used. It is no longer who they are allowed to be here in this country, where everything is already so overwhelmingly new. What a way to begin your new life, finding yourself in a country where your new neighbours let you know you are somehow inherently inferior. This habit disgusts me. This imperious imposition of a pecking order puts them in their place in short order. It gives the message that they are here on tolerance only, and that they had better become "english" right away, and it is wrong, wrong, wrong. A name is so very important a part of any person. It is NOT something that you should "translate", or "anglicize". Jorge is NOT George. It is Jorge. Jui Yung is NOT Drew. It is Jui Yung. A name is what it is and it should never be changed. Whenever I have a chance to advice a new arrival to our country, I always tell them to refuse to allow others to change their name. I tell parents to contact their children's schools and tell them exactly what their son or daughter's name is, and refuse to allow any of the teachers to arbitrarily change it.
My name is Linda. I do not care what country I may visit, or what language may be spoken by the people I meet. My name is Linda. It always will be. Call me by my name. I expect that for myself, and I know so many of those who treat others' names with disdain expect the same for themselves as I do. If their names were suddenly declared to be somehow unacceptable, there would be a great outcry and much gnashing of teeth! To them I say, "Stop it. Stop this arrogance and treat the newcomers to our country with the dignity they deserve. Learn their proper names, and say them with a welcoming smile."
In one instance, a former colleague found herself teaching a boy called Jorge. (Pronounce the both the J and the G as an H, and split it into syllables between the R and the G. There you have it.) It simply is NOT too difficult a name to pronounce, but she declared that she could not imagine him wanting "to be stuck with a moniker like that" and began to call him George. It was wrong of her to do that. I know of schools where some of the paperwork sent home with a newly registered student includes the question "What english name would you like your son/daughter to be called?" It is wrong of the schools to do that. What makes these people think it is OK for them to strike at the sense of self-worth of these new-comers at so very basic a level as their given names? A person's name is their identity. A child grows up knowing themselves to be Jui Yung, or Sonnari. The name becomes inextricably tied into their self-consciousness. Then, they come to Canada and one of the first things they learn is that their name is no longer good enough to be used. It is no longer who they are allowed to be here in this country, where everything is already so overwhelmingly new. What a way to begin your new life, finding yourself in a country where your new neighbours let you know you are somehow inherently inferior. This habit disgusts me. This imperious imposition of a pecking order puts them in their place in short order. It gives the message that they are here on tolerance only, and that they had better become "english" right away, and it is wrong, wrong, wrong. A name is so very important a part of any person. It is NOT something that you should "translate", or "anglicize". Jorge is NOT George. It is Jorge. Jui Yung is NOT Drew. It is Jui Yung. A name is what it is and it should never be changed. Whenever I have a chance to advice a new arrival to our country, I always tell them to refuse to allow others to change their name. I tell parents to contact their children's schools and tell them exactly what their son or daughter's name is, and refuse to allow any of the teachers to arbitrarily change it.
My name is Linda. I do not care what country I may visit, or what language may be spoken by the people I meet. My name is Linda. It always will be. Call me by my name. I expect that for myself, and I know so many of those who treat others' names with disdain expect the same for themselves as I do. If their names were suddenly declared to be somehow unacceptable, there would be a great outcry and much gnashing of teeth! To them I say, "Stop it. Stop this arrogance and treat the newcomers to our country with the dignity they deserve. Learn their proper names, and say them with a welcoming smile."
1 Comments:
Kinda like my middle name.
It's funny how a billion Chinese have no difficulty with Chinese names, but North Americans see to. Must be all that Chinese food they eat for breakfast.
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