Re: What's in a name? by James Baquet

On Jun 4, 3:17 pm, thambidoo...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
IF YOU WISH TO LET MR JAMES BAQUET OR THE SHENZHEN DAILY KNOW YOUR
OPINION, THEY ARE REACHABLE AT jamesbaq...@xxxxxxxxx AND
szda...@xxxxxxxxxxxx

On Jun 4, 3:04 pm, thambidoo...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:



The following article entitled "WHAT'S IN A NAME?" by MR JAMES BAQUET
appeared in the SHENZHEN DAILY (深圳日报) on page 12 in his BUZZWORDS
column on 26 May 2008. I have copied it word for word for your reading
and consideration.

What's in a name?

- James Baquet

Recently, a reader wrote saying he had found a job in a company, and
his new company was requiring him to use an English name. He said that
he objected to this, and then asked: "Why does a Chinese need to have
an English name for work?"

It's an excellent question. Our names are of great importance to us,
establishing our identities, our faces to the world.

Shakespeare asks, "What's in a name?" and then answers his own
question: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." With
respect to the Bard, I have to disagree. We associate a thing with its
name.

A presidential candidate named "Hitler" would have little chance of
winning an election in America, no matter how good a man he is. But a
name like "Lincoln" or "Washington" might be a great help.

Since names can work for us or against us, there may be times when we
have to let go of the name our parents gave us. So I think this reader
should use an English name, then, for a few reasons.

First, he's not actually changing his name. He's just acquiring a
"nickname" for use at work. In addition to our "real" names, many of
us have nicknames that change in different situations. Since coming to
Shenzhen, I have been called "The Temple Guy," "The Laughing Buddha,"
and these days "Shenzhen Buzz" or "Mr. Shenzhen." Through all these
changes, I've still kept the name of James.

Next, remember that this is a work requirement. People who work at
McDonald's don't have to wear the uniform; they only have to wear it
if they want to keep their jobs!

The final reason is a little more complex. If this reader is dealing
with foreign customers, he may find that they can't catch his Chinese
name. This is serious. If a customer can't remember your name, or if
he's shy about saying it, this could affect your relationship and,
ultimately, your sales.

If I say to a Chinese person I've just met, "Hi, my name is Aloysius
McGillicuddy," he will probably say, "Hi, uh..."

But if I say, "Hi, my name is Aloysius McGillicuddy. Please call me
Al," he will feel much more comfortable. My nickname is easy to
remember and say.

Sometimes in cross-cultural situations, we need to "meet the other
person halfway." In business, we may have to go "all the way," making
things easy for the customer so we can make that sale.

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end------------------------------------------

Having read Mr James Baquet's articles "What's in a name? (I) & (II)"
that appeared on 26 and 27 May respectively in your paper, I feel
compelled to offer a counter-view to his outmoded and false opinion.

In his article, Mr Baquet stated that the new company a reader was
hoping to join wanted the reader to use an English name. The reader
asked: "Why does a Chinese need to have an English name for work?"

Mr Baquet answered: "...I think this reader should use an English name...."
and gave his reasons in the articles. If we distill the articles, we
find one and only one premise on which he builds his whole opinion -
convenience. Convenience for westerners.

Not 2 generations ago, where I come from, we were occupied by western
colonial powers. It was at that time practical and sometimes even
considered prestigious to adopt an English name. It helped in school,
in employment, in business and sometimes in getting titles/honours
from the colonial government. I am glad to inform that this practice
has waned considerably since then. It is no longer considered
essential or even as fashionable as before. Except in China.

This is understandable, seeing as China has only opened up her economy
to outside influences again not that many years ago. Under these
western cultural bombardments, many, especially the youngsters,
confuse hipness with goodness and want, not only to live like
westerners, but to be like one as well. What about the people running
a company like the one mentioned above? I can only say, if he is
Chinese, he is probably a silly, culturally insecure person
entertaining the silly myth of a racist idea. If he is a westerner,
then he is a racist.

Mr Baquet knows very well that if the incident of the reader had
happened in his home country, the USA, the offending company could be
sued on grounds of racism. And the reader would win easily. So much
so, that no company there would dare to make such requirement of their
employees. But, here in China, Mr Baquet says something else. I doubt
Mr Baquet would have posted the same reply to the reader had the query
been posed to him in a paper in his home country.

Notwithstanding the friendly, seemingly helpful and jovial tone of Mr
Baquet's articles, I find them ill-considered, irresponsible, flippant
and offensive. As a Teacher, he should have known better.

It would not have been so offensive (not offensive, but still silly),
had Mr Baquet sincerely suggested changing or adopting a non-Chinese
name to make it easier for all foreigners to remember. But, no, he
first distinctly stated: English names, and then went on to qualify
that these include essentially Euro Anglo-Saxon names.

There are many Africans and Indians and Arabs and Thais and other non-
western foreigners in China also. What about them? Should we not also
adopt a name like Thambidoorai Zhang when dealing with an Indian? Or
Hathairat Wang when dealing with a Thai? No! We do not even consider
it and may even laugh at it. Not because the bastardized names sound
silly, but because the whole idea of this need to change your name
(for that is what you do when you add an appendix to it) is silly and
laughable!

Furthermore, the idea that Westerners are some how linguistically and
mentally handicapped when it comes to remembering Chinese or Asian
names is utter nonsense. It is just as easy, or difficult, for a
Chinese to remember a western name, and vice-versa. My grandmother
just could not remember the simple name, Paul, because that sound
carried no meaning for her. Besides, that idea is also terribly
insulting to my many English and German and American and other western
friends who sincerely try and have no problem remembering Chinese or
Asian names.

I am not such an idiot as to suggest that a name is sacrosanct in
itself and should never be changed. People change names for many
reasons: for love, for religion and other deeply held convictions.
Just do not change your name for some silly unproven idea that it
would be more memorable to foreigners. Or that it would make
foreigners like you more. Believe me, when a foreigner dislikes you,
it is regardless of your name.

Never forget, for Asians, a father or grandfather (or even great-
grandfather), would spend much thought and heart in coming up with his
child's name. The name is not just a sound to remember and identify
the child by. It is often created to harmonize the past, present and
future generations. It carries with it the aspiration and hope of the
fore-fathers.

A name should only be changed after deep and careful thought. Never do
it for some silly racist idea. Your name is yours and yours alone, do
not let others influence you into changing it.

Next to life, your name is the second gift to you from your Father and
Mother. Do not forget that.

THE FOLLOWING IS A FURTHER REPLY TO BUZZWORDS ARTICLES: "WHAT'S IN A
NAME? (I) & (II)"

I am disappointed that both you and the Shenzhen Daily prefer to
disregard my reply to your articles above-captioned. I surely hope you
do not subscribe to the opinion that "freedom of the press is for
people who own them."

Your piece today ("Emerson and Whitman") is a good introduction to
these two great men and their ideas which have to this day remain some
of the most cherished and inspired, if not by the world, then
certainly by the American people.

One cannot fail to see the irony of the above piece appearing
immediately following "What's in a name? (I & II)". The advice
proffered in the earlier two articles is so obversely in conflict with
the ideas introduced in the latest piece and that they all came from
the same man are very puzzling indeed.

Your admiration for Emerson and Whitman is obvious. I would even
hazard a guess that you aspire to the ideals that they espouse.
However, there appears to be gaps between the aspiration and
application.

I do not think that you said what you did about changing name with any
malicious or racist intent. But nevertheless, the outcome is doubtless
racist. The problem with racism is that often it happens
subconsciously with no malice intended. Which makes it all the more
insidious. I too am guilty of this sometimes. A more deliberate and
conscious effort at cultural sensitivity should help.

In order to refute again your wrong advice, please allow me to quote
you quoting Emerson: "Insist on yourself; never imitate." There can be
no more powerful or succinct way of putting it.

I believe strongly that your ill-considered advice must be challenged
openly so that your young readers may benefit from reading an opposing
view and forming their own opinion thereafter. I have

...

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IF YOU WISH TO LET MR JAMES BAQUET OR THE SHENZHEN DAILY KNOW YOUR
OPINION, THEY ARE REACHABLE AT jamesbaquet@xxxxxxxxx AND
szdaily@xxxxxxxxxxxx
.

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