Comments on Sree's Views: Just wondering... - Voracious Blog Reader

@ DeekshanyaThanks.Yes, the identity given to them...

2007-11-01T03:41:00.000+05:30

@ Deekshanya

Thanks.

Yes, the identity given to them by their parents. :(

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Awesome video!! Loved it! I agree totally with you...

2007-10-29T11:43:00.000+05:30

Awesome video!! Loved it! I agree totally with you, these indians living in america... dunno what to say - they are so dumb to change their name - the identity given to them by their beloved parents.

Hey CW,Yes, many choose the latter idea. But can ...

2007-10-16T00:16:00.000+05:30

Hey CW,

Yes, many choose the latter idea. But can one attribute it to patience? I wonder.

Kudos on your efforts to pronounce new names.

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The husband & I both have difficult to pronounce n...

2007-10-14T06:01:00.000+05:30

The husband & I both have difficult to pronounce names (by local standards). He opts to use his simpler surname while I don't. After all I take the effort to learn to pronounce new (to me) names don't I!
But it's not just Indians who do this- I have several Chinese friends who have adopted english names just so it makes it easier for them and those they interact with. Guess ultimately it boils down to how patient one is..would you rather correct someone's flawed pronunciation or give yrself a nick..many seem to choose the latter.

Hi Shefaly,Welcome here.Thanks for the link.//Mahe...

2007-10-06T18:50:00.000+05:30

Hi Shefaly,

Welcome here.

Thanks for the link.

//
Mahendra (Mahinder!), Devendra (Davinder!) and names containing -sha- .....
//

Thanks for pointing it out. Its true. I have come across one such case. Anantharaman as Anatharam.

As you said, once the right pronounciation is taught, everything becomes easy.

Voracious Blog Reader

Link broke, sorry:http://laviequotidienne.wordpres...

2007-10-05T21:01:00.000+05:30

Link broke, sorry:
http://laviequotidienne.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/
the-name-game-or-gaming-naming/

VBR: In my experience, North Indians are more like...

2007-10-05T20:59:00.000+05:30

VBR: In my experience, North Indians are more likely to make a hash of pronouncing names like Mahendra (Mahinder!), Devendra (Davinder!) and names containing -sha- (always -sa-, just like nails screeching down a blackboard), than many westerners. If one patiently teaches them once, they normally do not resort to familiar names.

That said, I wrote something about names a few weeks ago, which may interest you:
http://laviequotidienne.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/the-name-game-or-gaming-naming/

Thanks for visiting my blog earlier.

@ JeevanHi Jeevan. Great that you liked the video...

2007-10-05T20:00:00.000+05:30

@ Jeevan

Hi Jeevan. Great that you liked the video.

@ Anusha

Hi. Welcome here.

//
n isn't it kinda bugging correcting ppl again n again
//

I would like to know more. Can you please ask the people as to why they find it bugging to teach somebody to pronounce their name properly?

//
n its not always for the westerners too....... most north-Indians ve a hard time pronouncing ZH .....
//

Whats your take on Mahendra's point of view. I accord with his view.

By the way, can you please enable "publishing comments without an account" in your blog. Thank you.

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come on ..... its not an inferiority complex ((mos...

2007-10-05T19:19:00.000+05:30

come on ..... its not an inferiority complex ((most of the times)) it starts out simple as a pet name amongst pals ......as it easier to make fun/pull leg of a single syllable name than a bigger 1..... then it just carries on.... n isn't it kinda bugging correcting ppl again n again ..... n its not always for the westerners too....... most north-Indians ve a hard time pronouncing ZH ..... as in tamizh .. isnt that y v ve kept it as Tamil.... ??? n we ourselves find it very difficult to pronounce a manipuri name.... so we shorten it ..... so as long as its done in good humor.... i guess its fine

True, many like to shorten their names. My uncle’s...

2007-10-05T18:05:00.000+05:30

True, many like to shorten their names. My uncle’s kid name dharshine we call her dachu, one of my cousin name was ashwin, we call him achu.

My buddies here call me Jeevz instead of Jeevan. Nice video!

@ MahendraYou are correct. If we learn the pronou...

2007-10-05T13:14:00.000+05:30

@ Mahendra

You are correct. If we learn the pronounciation right, we stick on to it.

@ Priyank

//
So maybe those guys too shorten (or change) it for the sake of Americans!
//

That makes me wonder too.

@Prerna

Yes. You are true. But do the people find it difficult to pronounce the names properly even after learning the correct pronounciation?

Voracious Blog Reader

Sometimes it helps to have a nick name because you...

2007-10-04T12:41:00.000+05:30

Sometimes it helps to have a nick name because your name is distorted by the Western World. Why Western world alone,people fron non Hindi speaking states distort Hindi names and Hindi speaking people distort the South Indian and Bengali names.
I am a victim of this so I can understand the justification of having a nick name.

Mahendra, I agree with the reasoning. That is inde...

2007-10-04T00:39:00.000+05:30

Mahendra, I agree with the reasoning. That is indeed how it works (never thought about it). So maybe those guys too shorten (or change) it for the sake of Americans!

Yes, VRB: I was trying to list different reasons -...

2007-10-03T22:20:00.000+05:30

Yes, VRB: I was trying to list different reasons - why Americans like their names to be shorter has got nothing to do with difficulty of pronunciation.

Priyank: I would like to make a distinction here. When Indians stumble with East European or Oriental names, it is because they are unfamiliar with how to interpret the pronunciation from the English representation of the name, not because of the inherent difficulty of pronunciation.

I mean, if you write those names in Devnagri when introducing them to an Indian person, he would not have any difficulty. That is the reason once an Indian learns the correct pronunciation by actually listening to it, he learns and then doesn't stumble.

This doesn't hold true with our names, however many times we may explain the pronunciation to Americans or others.

Apart from all the reasons given above, I usually ...

2007-10-03T19:10:00.000+05:30

Apart from all the reasons given above, I usually ask them NOT to address me by last name for the simple reason that I find a mispronounced name derogatory! Oh yeah and Indians too stumble with Chinese, Russian or some East European names, even those guys shorten it :)

@ MahendraHi Mahendra. Yes, sanskrit language sur...

2007-10-03T18:57:00.000+05:30

@ Mahendra

Hi Mahendra. Yes, sanskrit language sure helps.

The names "Bill Gates" and "Mike Tyson" weren't used to make the pronounciation of their original names easier right?

@ Akanathan

//
Have you ever tried to pronounce the names like the Zimbabwe cricket Mpumelelo Mbangwa?
//

No, I haven't for I don't know how it is pronounced. But if I know how it is pronounced I would definitely pronounce it rightly. I wonder whether he is ready to have a nick name called "Bang".

//
In India too, people shorten their names for having pet names or to show more affection to one
//

You are right. Having a pet name, as many pointed out, is to show affection.

I knew a guy called Padmanabhan and he was called Paddy amongst his friends. This was because there were two guys named Padmanabhan and hence to differentiate, the name "Paddy". But he has not lived in Karnataka. I am wondering at the similarities.

Taking about initials, the director Balachandar is always quoted as "K.Balachandar". I wonder why.

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Have you ever tried to pronounce the names like th...

2007-10-03T18:11:00.000+05:30

Have you ever tried to pronounce the names like the Zimbabwe cricket Mpumelelo Mbangwa? Even our Bengali friends can not pronounce "V". of course Indians are much better and we adopt to anythings so easily.

I have heard Indians change their names in western countries for business reasons. If the names are easy to pronounce and sound similar to their region, some sort of affection comes which is good for business. One interesting change of pronunciation without changing the spelling is "Manohar" being called as "Man O' Har". (Some NRI friends used to tell me this)

In India too, people shorten their names for having pet names or to show more affection to one. Over the period it holds. My wife is very good in making names short for people. I am called "Aggie" (only by my wife ok) by my wife.She does this for every friend of hers.

At times it becomes too much. In Bangalore, I have heard almost all Padmanabhans are called as "Paddy" and a lot of Shanmugams being called "Shan", of course Mahalingam as "Maali". Very funny na. But in colleges, it is initials to give the respect to prof and in corporates it is to have the conversation very easy like VK, MK, etc.

Nice post. I suspect there are many reasons, depen...

2007-10-03T17:03:00.000+05:30

Nice post. I suspect there are many reasons, depending upon the situation and circumstance:

1. Brevity, as Ankur points out.
2. Pronunciation: it's not a question of Americans being dumb. We Indians are schooled in multiple languages since childhood, and our Sanskrit-derived languages pack a large assortment of consonants and syllables. We are experts across the world because of our ability to pronounce difficult words correctly.
3. How many times have you said William Gates, and not Bill? Or Michael Tyson, and not Mike? Point is, it's not just Indians who do it, they do it themselves too.

@ PrabhuThanks Prabhu. This topic has been sittin...

2007-10-03T13:43:00.000+05:30

@ Prabhu

Thanks Prabhu. This topic has been sitting in my mind too for a long time.

//
...are the ones who don't want to live for themselves, but should be pleasing somebody or satisfy somebody
//

You have brought a new perspective to this issue. You are right. People tend to please somebody by changing their names.

Voracious Blog Reader

Nice Post Voracious Blog Reader, it is of course a...

2007-10-02T15:38:00.000+05:30

Nice Post Voracious Blog Reader, it is of course a big question that has been sitting in my mind too. My answer to it would be that most people who shorten their names are the ones who don't want to live for themselves, but should be pleasing somebody or satisfy somebody. Of course, the affectionate shortening of the names is different. But the Ayyampettai Arivudai Nambi Kaliyaperumal Chandrans prefer to introduce themselves as Chandru or Chan (imitating Jackie Chan) :D, but a nice noteworthy point brought to the front, good post once again

@ AnkurNo offense meant. :)@ AmuthaMind if I addre...

2007-10-02T02:16:00.000+05:30

@ Ankur

No offense meant. :)

@ Amutha

Mind if I address you this way? or do you prefer your pet name at home? I came to know you as Ammu and would like to stick to it though. :)

Take care ammu.

@ Krish Ashok

Can't help laughing at the various pronounciations for the 3 syllable word. Are the Americans that dumb? I am sure you have the knack to sound the same when it comes to their names. Tried that? How did they react?

//
Aah :) Sir VBR finally blogs.
//

Are you sure about the way you have addressed me?

//
VBR finally blogs. So he does "really exist" ;)
//

Yes. And I would understand if you prefer not to scratch my back :p

@ Curious

hee hee hee. Nice one.

I like the way you insist that your name be pronounced fully. Way to go Curious. Proud of you. :)

Voracious Blog Reader

VBR don't even get me started on this one! :D thou...

2007-10-01T23:35:00.000+05:30

VBR don't even get me started on this one! :D though the case is a wee bit diff...

I like y name without nick and others like to shorten it! :D

Thanks to anniyan anyone and everyone has a liberty over my name...though I am jus fine without it. I sometimes even insist on calling me by my full name...

Aah :) Sir VBR finally blogs. So he does "really e...

2007-10-01T11:52:00.000+05:30

Aah :) Sir VBR finally blogs. So he does "really exist" ;)

My experience with nicknames has been interesting. For one, I have a full name that only has 3 syllables - Krish Ashok. And Americans have variously pronounced Ashok as
1. Ash Cock
2. A Shock
3. Uh Shook

I cannot possibly shorten it further (ala Kams) so I tend to ask them to use my last name (Krish)

some ppl are doing it due to inferiority complex, ...

2007-10-01T10:15:00.000+05:30

some ppl are doing it due to inferiority complex, we got to admit that. but some just want to make their names to be pronounced easily. i was known as amutha during my primary and secondary school, but when i entered pre-U, the majority of my classmates were chinese and they found it hard to pronounce such a short name! thus, i bcame ammu to them. and i always been ammu in my home. :)

ammu.

i have such a short simple name... even a small ki...

2007-10-01T05:46:00.000+05:30

i have such a short simple name... even a small kid can pronounce it correctly... why would u gals like to dissect it?