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Sunday, 31 October 2010
What�s in a Name?
 by Norman Berdichevsky (November 2010) What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name; And for that name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself. Why do so many Americans and Brits fear family names ending in "ski" or "-witz" or "-off" or "-cu"? There are, of course, many other 'difficult' names and those who bear them know who they are. From a very early age, we realized that we would have to face life full of constant questioning, indignities, silly grins and tens of thousands of requests to "spell it please" and the need for longer lines on documents which to sign our name. more>>> Posted on 10/31/2010 2:31 PM by NER
Comments
31 Oct 2010
 Paul Blaskowicz
A sheynen dank! I have always entertained the harmless conceit that my name might be of Iberian origin, Blasco having been fairly common among the sephardim. 1 Nov 2010
Kevin Morrison
- and just to add to the fun, one of the accepted pronunciations (BBC Pronouncing Dictionary, 1971) of Featherstonehaugh is 'fan-shaw'! 2 Nov 2010
Mary Jackson Cheers, Norm. 6 Nov 2010
John Thomas I'm reminded of British poet John Betjeman, who wrote, mournfully abut "that fateful t-j-e ...", and was ragged by fellow-schoolboys (this was in WW1) "Betjeman's a German spie! Shoot him down and let him die!", but was told by his mother "You're English on your mother's side, John ... oh happy, happy browns and robinsons!" We, in Britain, often assume that the US is very accustomed to its European personal names, more so than us - but we, increasingly, have Asian ones amongst our neighbours, and the most common forename is now Mohammed. 15 Nov 2010
Bea
Norman, I will truly feel our family has arrived in Armerica after over 100 years when my grandson changes his name back to Davidovic from Davis. Bea Davis Fowler PS: ;Don't go by my name. I married it. 25 Nov 2010
NVGelph
Oy vey. Tell me about it. My family name is so obscure and foreign (even in the native tongue) that I've taken to rewarding with $10 those who manage to pronounce it correctly. |