| Username |
Post |
| Bostonian |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 12:22 PM
Once you come to america, your name gets a radical facelift so to say. Among guys I think the most common americanized name is "SAM"
Sam could be Sameer, Samir, Sambriddhi, Sampurna, Samrat, Samsher, Swayambhu... add more.
Do you know any other americanized names and which nepalese names they are derived from? How about female names?
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| NK |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 12:47 PM
Of course, different drums for different people. I really would like to know why people change their names once they come to this country? Is it a sign of independence? Hey my Parents! Guess what? From now on I am no more your docile Hirdayngam. But, Hary! Or is it because these people want to be assimilated rather quickly and think, "hey, this is easy!" All i have to do is change my name to Ann from Annapurnika and I am IN, baby! Or is it neither. They just like that particular name, say (from above example), Sam and stick with it. No deep thoughts going in there.
Somehow I am deeply attached to my name. If anybody shortens my name then I let them know, rather immediately. It gets personal. But, to be honest, mostof the time people from different origin than mine are sensitive enough and ask me repeatedly how to pronouce my name. Boy, do I get joy from that or what! Somebody is spending five minutes on my name, just to be able to pronounce it correctly, not BAd! Then when they have more free time to kill they even ask what that means. So, I just get out of little praying mat, sit down cross legged and start with what it means in Sanskrit. the etymological history of my name, the variation and derivation the pi ..... oh just forget it.
where was I?
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| smp |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 02:06 PM
As someone whose name has changed slightly from what it used to be in Nepal, I think the most encountered reason for why one changes one's name upon arrival to the new world is simply "convenience." My first name has changed from four syllables to two and that makes my life easier a lot of times.
Take Nepali names that are short and simple to pronouce for instance, such as Namita, Ashu or Biswo (sorry I am not singling out any indivual but just taking the names from this forum because it is easier than coming up with a name on my own). More likely than not, the individuals with those names still use them in their original forms.
However, if your name is Annapurnika or Vidhiyadhar or Siddartha, it is easier for people to call you Anna or Vidya or Sid and it is easier for you to use that name when you introduce yourself to someone new or someone with a different background than yours.
I just want to point out that it is hardly ever a matter of assimilation or proving of independence. If that were the case, you would see the same phenomenon with the last names. Moreover, you would see names being changed officially. Bajracharya would become Bennington. Manandhar would become Miller.
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| NK |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 03:54 PM
oh yes, I forgot about the 'Convenience' as smp stated.
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| _BP |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 04:19 PM
I go by Ben to make it easier for my American friends to refer to me. My Nepali and Indian friends call me by my Hindu name. It is easier to assimilatethis way. Although I can make friends and clients easier. My teache rin high school actually started calling me Ben, which I thought was fine because it sounded a lot better than my real name being butchered.
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| DUDE |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 04:30 PM
Hello SMP - does that stand for "Smoke More Pot"? That's a name in itself.
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| smp |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 04:54 PM
That's pretty creative DUDE! How did you get to be so smart?
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| DUDE |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 05:02 PM
My Friend made it up - seen the stickers and T's? Peace, Dude
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| smp |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 05:14 PM
All right DUDE, peace to you too!
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| amina |
Posted
on 03-Dec-01 11:40 PM
There was this guy "tanka bahadur', now his friends call him "tank".
I haven't had much trouble with my name so far...but I always get the question, " Are you a muslim? " or sometimes " Siya or sunni ?" and then I go on to tell the story of how a hindu girl got a muslim name. I think I'll call my daughter "Mary".
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| Gokul |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 05:18 AM
Interesting topic,
I needed to have a name for a kid a year ago. I followed the following criteria.
(1) The name must be representative of my culture (Hindu): ORIGINALITY
(2) The meaning must convey respect from all human beings regardless of their religions and faiths. UNIVERSALITY
(3) There should be no need for historical or mythological lessons. SIMPLICITY
(4) There is no need for simple pronunciation - targeted for a specific group. In this age of globalization, if they understand one word from a different culture, it might help them. So do not deprive them from this learning opportunity.
(5) And lastly, it must be unique so that if somebody searches it in the Internet, only this should appear :-)
Keeping these constraints in mind, the name that got concocted was:
Satyagni Shikha (Meaning: Flames of the fire of truth)
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 09:46 AM
I’ve nothing against nepali folks who abbreviate or even Americanize their name for convenience sake. In fact, I almost sympathize with them. But note that I say ‘almost’. I’ve had my name butchered numerous times by people who aren’t familiar with my Hindu name BUT I absolutely refuse to accommodate them and abbreviate my name for their sake. I’m made it clear to the people I work and/or socialize with, in no uncertain terms that if I can say their name flawlessly they should have the courtesy to at least try to say my name correctly. Of course, it takes a while before they get it right but once they try hard enough, they do get it right. Then of course there are the morons who don’t even bother to try and butcher my name time after time. What do I do? Simple, I butcher their names – Terry becomes Terra (yup, as in terracotta) or Tira, Puszcowski (prounounced Pusz-cha-kov-ski) becomes Puzcouchi etc. I’ve found they make a real good effort the next time they try to say my name.
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 10:24 AM
jdv, I see that you subscribe to the 'eye for an eye' approach of name calling. To each her own I suppose. I 'applaud' that you can do so. Somehow I haven't been able to delibrately pronounce a 'new' friend's name wrong just because she simply can't pronouce my long Sanskrit name correctly. Especially since even most Nepalis have trouble saying it right.
Take the name Gerrardo for instance. To say it properly, you have to roll the r's and only some people can do it. If you are a Scandanavian and your name is Eric and cannot roll your r's even if your life depended on it, should Gerrardo who can pronounce 'Eric' perfectly call him Arik or Yarik?
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 10:47 AM
smp - the point is, my name IS VERY easy to pronounce – very phonetic (it’s got three syllables in it for heavens sakes!!). I don't know if I’m being paranoid or whether it’s the effect of growing up with racist (some of them) white folks who were constantly calling me ‘yellow’ cause of my skin color, but whenever I come across people who DON’T EVEN TRY to make an effort to pronounce my name correctly, or are very sarcastic about it, damned right I’m going to make it a point to purposely mispronounce their name. It’s not like I don’t give them some lee way the first ten-fifteen times they butcher my name. But with some people, it just gets to a point where you say enough already! And I don’t make it a point to butcher every white folks name, just those who are too lazy or racist to bother saying my name right. Like I said earlier, if I can pronounce even un-pronounceable names like Puszcowski that are spelt one way and pronounced another, they should at least return the favor. You can call it an ‘an eye for an eye’ treatment, but anyway you slice it, it’s a simple and effective way of making sure they say my name right the next time without too much aggravation on my part.
BTW – Ben Puszcowski (like the majority of white people I work / socialize with) pronounces my name perfectly, I just happened to use his name cause it’s quite a tongue twister.
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 10:47 AM
smp - the point is, my name IS VERY easy to pronounce – very phonetic (it’s got three syllables in it for heavens sakes!!). I don't know if I’m being paranoid or whether it’s the effect of growing up with racist (some of them) white folks who were constantly calling me ‘yellow’ cause of my skin color, but whenever I come across people who DON’T EVEN TRY to make an effort to pronounce my name correctly, or are very sarcastic about it, damned right I’m going to make it a point to purposely mispronounce their name. It’s not like I don’t give them some lee way the first ten-fifteen times they butcher my name. But with some people, it just gets to a point where you say enough already! And I don’t make it a point to butcher every white folks name, just those who are too lazy or racist to bother saying my name right. Like I said earlier, if I can pronounce even un-pronounceable names like Puszcowski that are spelt one way and pronounced another, they should at least return the favor. You can call it an ‘an eye for an eye’ treatment, but anyway you slice it, it’s a simple and effective way of making sure they say my name right the next time without too much aggravation on my part.
BTW – Ben Puszcowski (like the majority of white people I work / socialize with) pronounces my name perfectly, I just happened to use his name cause it’s quite a tongue twister.
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| NK |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 10:51 AM
To me it all comes down to this:
As Gokul pointed out the name doesnot need to be "simple" for the targeted group. And as jdv pointed out if I can say their name they should be able to say mine too. Or, at least show some effort as I have.
In Nepal, Kanchi, or in my case Mailie would have taken me a long way. But, being in a foreign country, one (in this case I), needs to assert oneself. If not, I might be taken for a ride, being an ignorant foreighner, who comes here to take the natives jobs away, the boat people, etc. etc. you know. I need a boundary for myself as well as others. How far can you go? How far can I go? To me, it starts from my name. That is all I have when I am with newly acquainted (in a job situation, striking a conversation on the T, and so).In a way it is symbolic, I think. Just becuase somebody calls me NNK intsead of NK, does not mean I become NNK. But heart of the matter is - my thought is - don't even think of messing around with me. It all starts with my name, baby. I have a name I identify with. So, if you want to have a conversation, information, pacification, Justification, then you'd better start from pronouncing my name correctly. Then we can talk.
I think I would not have made such a fuss, had I thought to pronounce one's name in this culture is no biggie. It is! They give so much emphasis on remembering the name. Remember job interview. Any party. when you have to introduce yourself on any occasion, It's the name, stupid. . So, let's start from the right footing, Bro!
[Again, to be fair, people have always been courteous (most, most of the time) when it comes to pronouncing my name. I am not kidding, they get embarrassed when they cannot pronounce my name on the first go. Then they ask me spell it! ]
Last, a disclaimer: I want to emphasize I have NO PROBLEM, WHY SHOULD I, if people want to shorten their name, take anglosaxon name, whatever. I am not deriding anybody if they do.
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:29 AM
jdv, I am not singling you or your name out just so you know.
But what may be simple to you may not be all that simple to others. Simplcity is always relative. A friend of mine from South Africa talks in Tkhosha (with clicks) and that is very easy for him but I cannot even begin to say the simplest words. Even if I try to say his name correctly which uses that clicking sound, I get it wrong. So I call him by his short, simple but not Americanized name. My earlier point about 'convenience' is rooted on this reasoning on 'relativity of simplicity'. Maybe this reasoning is a stretch for a two syllable name like Maya but on a general level, this reasoning does hold in my opinion.
I DO understand your concern that people don't try. Believe me, I have been there. What to do about it is just a matter of choice, one alternative not necessarily better or worse than another. You made your choice. And others like me make theirs and make their names shorter or Americanized to make it easy for others. Both sould be fine and I have nothing against your approach. I was just trying to explain mine.
Maybe by using the phrase 'an eye for an eye' I made it sound like I was being judgmental but my intention was to just point out an analogy normatively. I suppose I wasn't very successful at accomplishing that having ignored the possible negative connotation that phrase brings. Sorry about that.
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:41 AM
jdv, when I say I have nothing against your approach, I actually mean I have nothing against you for making your choice. The fact that I have chosen my approach over yours does reflect that I pefer mine over yours. I wasn't very clear about that above.
PS. My first and last names have 8 syllables in total some of which are strong Sanskrit ones in case someone is wondering why I prefer convenience.
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:44 AM
smp – no offense taken and I know none was meant, you really didn’t have to apologize but thank you all the same, I’m not one to get all riled up so easily :) You’re right when you say simplicity is always relative, no arguments on that. My only gripe is with people who refuse to make any effort to say non-Caucasian names correctly. I’ve nothing against Nepalis / non-Caucasians shortening or Americanizing their names – that’s their call, who am I to object? Besides, I understand that my approach isn’t the most perfect or even the most effective, I guess I just happened to be lucky enough that it worked / works for me.
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:46 AM
smp - now you've got me all curious as to what your name could be (with 8 syllables no less!!!).
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| NK |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:50 AM
jdv and smp!
Gosh, you two! Unbelievable. Such a nice people, so cordia. Gee, how I miss Ashu.
jdv,
you seriously don't know who smp is? wake up girl.
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:53 AM
NK, you me to say you know who I am.
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:55 AM
I meant to type "NK, you mean to say you know who I am".
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| NK |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 11:56 AM
yes, my dear smp!
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:00 PM
I'm supposed to know who smp is? I'm racking my brain but coming up with a blank. Help!!
As for the cordiality, we’re just polite people :)
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:01 PM
NK.
please please don't say it is ashu!!!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!
I need a holiday from Ashu :)!
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:02 PM
Sorry readers for getting way off the topic of the thread but I cannot help but chuckle at NK's assertion since I don't know who she is in person although having been a visitor to this forum for the past 6 months, I do know who she is here. So the chuckle is either for the possibility that she is wrong or for the possibility that I may be more famous than I think I am. I am not sure which is true. :)
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:06 PM
Out with it!! Who's smp? I'd be willing to bet my last dime that it's not Ashu (Ashu's not polite enough to even pass for a fraction of smp).
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:06 PM
sunakhari, rest assured that I am not Ashu. You can check the IDs if you want. Do I sound like Ashu? I am not sure how to take that as ... :)
NK, I do not live in Boston either if I am thinking correctly about who you think I am.
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| NK |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:16 PM
I went to get my lunch and voila 5 more postings. it is scary though,isn't it just the thought of smp being ashu?
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:27 PM
Yes it is scary, especially for me. Not just being thought of as Ashu but also NK or jdv or sunakhari or anyone else in this forum for that matter. I am simply smp and those are my real initials, the ones I use to sign memos at work. Even if I reveal my full name, most of you won't know me since I don't think I know most of you. So in this forum, let me be just smp. That identity should suffice, especially since that appears in red as an approval from San (who by the way I know) as a registered user. jdv, If you are really curious, drop me an email and I will tell you.
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| NK |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:30 PM
smp,
i really think who you think I think you are. and, you do live in boston. prove it, if it is otherwise! (one smiley face)
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| Nischal |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:31 PM
How about american name into Nepali?
Like
for Denis Rodman---Dinesh Ratna Shakya
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:36 PM
Sorry to digress, but can't resist asking.... Nischal from KY?
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:39 PM
NK, without revealing my full name, it is not trivial to prove that I am not who you think I am. But my IP address (my ID below my name) does prove to you that this message and every message I have written in this forum is not being posted from Boston.
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:44 PM
Nischal, that is actually interesting. I have given at least two American friends Nepali names that I sometimes use to call them. More jovially than seriously though.
But a westerner might change his/her name to a Nepali name if he/she decides to live in Nepal. Christopher might become Krishna. Seriously, one might even think it is cute if a foreinger comes to a Nepali who lives in Nepal and says : "Ma lai Krishna bhanuhosh!"
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| sparsha |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:45 PM
Is Jeevan Rai (I guess people still remember this musician) still around boston ?
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| NK |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:50 PM
Sparsha, He is! Still playing 'pretty woman' :)
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| sparsha |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 12:56 PM
He is hell of a "loyal" musician then. I remember him from my days in Boston in early '90s. Good to know he is still around.
BTW what's is his name? NK, do you know?
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| Trina |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:03 PM
What's in a name anyways, I mean whether you change your name to Sam
from Samundra (wait,is that a name? i think i just came up with a name)
or you become a Ben from Bupendar aren't you the same person inside? I would
think that a rose by any other name would still remain a rose correct?
Or do you take on a different personality according to your name?
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:13 PM
"A rose is a rose is a rose!" I agree. That's how I consider my name; I can think of not just two but a dozen names people call me by. Most are terms of endearment and I am fine with all those.
But it might not be too much ask of another human being respect for you in your own terms, which also includes calling you by a name you prefer.
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| arnico |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:25 PM
(This is in response to a few posts earlier... this thread evolves too fast!)
I can safely say that I know this smp does not live in Boston.
JDV... you are so curious about my friend's identity... you also write with a pseudonym... shall we start guessing who you are? :)
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:27 PM
smp said
>
>But it might not be too much ask of another
>human being respect for you in your own
>terms, which also includes calling you by a
>name you prefer.
EXACTLY!!!
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:36 PM
Arnico, thanks for vouching for me :) And as you can see, I am chattering away here instead of working or studying for a difficult exam later this week or thinking about higher education issues in Nepal. Procrasnation, study break, call it what you may :)
jdv, I knew you were going to say that. But I still say "might". What consitutes respect for a fellow human being is an entirely different question with lots of possible answers and none of them being the "absolute". Enough to fill many threads like this.
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:36 PM
Arnico - the only reasons I'm curious to know what smp's name are:
1. He's got eight syllables in his name. I've mentally ticked off every Nepali name I can think of and for the life of me can't think of any with 8 syllables. Obviously my knowledge of Nepali names needs some polishing.
2. NK thinks I ought to know who he is. Sorry but I'm only human, if she thinks I know this person, then of course I'm curious to know his identity.
As for my usage of a pseudonym, I don't deny that I use one and don't begrudge anyone using one either. In fact, I rather like the anonymity that a psedonym offers. And you're more than willing to guess who I am - be my guest, but bear in mind, you only get three guesses :)
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:39 PM
smp - you've got to have the last word, don't you? What the hell, let me make your day, go ahead and post another message saying 'yes', that'll guarantee you having the last word :)
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:40 PM
;)
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:42 PM
I knew it!!
look who's having the last word now :)
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| TRINA |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 01:57 PM
SMP, and JOIE
You guys are absolutely correct that people
should refer to you by whatever names you choose to be referred by.
on my posting I wasn't suggesting that one should call a BIRENDRA
a BEN in order to accomodate the person who cannot prononuce (BIRNDRA) against Birendra's will.
There were some posters who admitted that they willingly americanized their
names to accomodate their american friends so my previous posting was for those
people and the question was for them as well
DO YOU GUYS TAKE ON A DIFFERENT PERSONALITY ACCORDING TO YOUR NAME?
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| smp |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 02:06 PM
My short name is not Americanized but it isn't Nepali either. I never conciously use it with my parents and family. When I do use it with them inadvertently, however, I do feel a bit odd. I do not think it changes my personality but I definitely become aware of slight awkwardness in me. I am not really sure why. _BP, do you have anything to add about yourself and Amina about your friend Tank?
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| _BP |
Posted
on 04-Dec-01 07:26 PM
I definitely feel weird when my American friends call me by my Nepali name, as I do when my Nepali friends call me Ben. So it doesn't happen. I of course speak Nepali very well, but I do find it easier to express myself in english colloquialisms. Perhaps because I live here and do things that Americans do...you know, when you live in Rome...
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