BNN provides English-language US and world news, analysis and opinion from all over the Internet. We strive for high standards, ethical behavior, and the presentation of multiple responsible points of view.
|
Get More Traffic For Your Blog! Blog Explosion brings hundreds of interested visitors to your blog - without costing you a cent. BNN News Archive Page |
Thursday, September 21, 2006
CHINGLISH NAMES IN CHINA Last year I marveled at the names some students has been given or had foisted on them by English teachers. This year it is even stranger. I always ask, for the first 3-4 meetings, that students introduce themselves with their Chinese names. One twist: I ask them to deviate from custom give me their name American style. I ask for their given name first and family name last, the reverse of their normal routine. It is usually a panic: Students are VERY unaccustomed to this and it makes for a lot of fun. In addition to their names in Chinese I ask them to spell it in Pinyin (English soundings for the Chinese character-impaired like me), and ask them to include any English names they use. For decades English teachers have been giving Chinese students English names to make it easier for the teacher to remember. Ostensibly this has been so they can more easily engage in conversations with Westerners. Funny though, I do not remember anyone in Chicago when, with the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw, changing their name from Czeslaw to Bob to suit an ESL teacher. I am not a fan of the name changing process for a number of reasons: --Why should they have to change their heritage just because we have trouble with Chinese? No one has demanded that I take on a Chinese moniker--though I chose one that uses a character that reflects me and my background pretty well: 彦 志....（Yan Zhi, which sounds like YEN ZCHEW) --Some teachers have been stupid or downright mean: One bellman in Beijing was named Dick Dong (yes, even I laughed until I nearly suffocated) and last year a student told me that another professor gave her the name Wilma. Damn it, every time I see her now I hum the Flintstones song. --Some of the students do a pretty good job of screwing up the process for themselves and the teachers do not insist that they get it right: This year I have students named Icey, Rainy, Daisy 1, Daisy 2, Fly, The Missle, Ka Ka, Look Look, Yo Yo, Roc, Cand, Choco and even some with even odder, less printable handles. I ususlly ask them if THEY would want to do a million-dollar outsourcing deal with Zippo or Flash? --What arrogance we have to expect anyone to change for us. Slavery is outlawed, they are not married to us (that is another blog item), and America really should become aware of countries outside of its borders--even if Bush and Ted Turner do not know the names of their leaders. Dick, I apologize for all my ethnocentric, mean-spirited colleagues. Ka Ka, we will work on that one.... Blogger News Network is advertiser-supported, and your visits to our advertisers help BNN to meet its expenses. Help keep us afloat! posted by Lonnie at 9:32 PM |
Subscribe to BNN and get a daily bulletin of all our news postings. Interested in writing for BNN? Want information on our news service? Contact The Editor Writing for BNN BNN Editorial Policies Previous Posts
|
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home