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Help[Opinions] Re: Lucille
in reply to a message by Lily
Thank you for your kind words regarding my name. ;)
As for your question: well, I live in a different culture, where informal nicknames have a much less prominent place in everyday life than they do in English-speaking countries. When someone introduces himself, they will be called by the name they introduced themselves with - no matter how long the name. When abbreviations or nicknames are used, it will usually be done by family or friends (but even then, not continually so). But outside those circles, it would actually be considered a bit rude (or cheeky at best) to nickname someone without their consent, and more so if those persons continue with the nickname after the person has explicitly told them to call them by their proper name. For example, if my employer suddenly started calling me Cilleke, I would find it derogatory, as if he were belittling me in a way with something diminutive like that. Well, if you see what I mean. :s
Also, my sister (Angelique) has a longer name and she always is called by her full name. The few people that call her Anga or Angie are mostly family and friends. But even they rarely do so - when I do it myself, it's usually in jest.
Very strictly speaking, though, my name is actually a nickname, as Lucille is not the name on my birth certificate. It's actually Lucia, which - by the way - I have never been called by in my life. Ever. Same goes for my sister, who is actually named Angela. In my country (especially in the south), we have a kind of tradition where children are given an official name (for on the birth certificate) but are called a derivative of that name in real life. It probably has to do with older times, where people were officially named long-winded Latin(ized) names which weren't all that handy in real life. A man named Franciscus would be Frans, a man named Josephus would be Jozef, a woman named Aldegonda would be Alda, and so on.
However, contrary to English-speaking countries, those derivatives of the official name are not informal in nature. Here, those derivatives have pretty much the same status as an official name, as that is the name you are called by for your entire life. So they don't even feel like a real nickname: they're more 'serious', they are not used in the same way as true nicknames usually are (i.e. informal). For example, on school application forms, they will explicitly ask you for your name on your birth certificate, but also for the name that you are called by in real life (the so-called "roepnaam", literally "calling name"). They will then use your "calling name" for everything concerning you, such as name lists (for checking one's presence in a class), official school correspondence, etc. The names on the birth certificate are just a formality that you'll only use on official documents such as a passport or driver's licence, but apart from that, people will very rarily come into contact with their official birth names.
This status that these derivatives enjoy, have probably played a significant part in why I can easily go by Lucille in real life. There's a certain respect for it, people will respect the name that you introduce yourself with - if you see what I mean. They see it as an integral part of your identity, and will not try to force some of their own perspectives/identity on yours by starting to call you something that they (rather than you) would prefer. :)
As for your question: well, I live in a different culture, where informal nicknames have a much less prominent place in everyday life than they do in English-speaking countries. When someone introduces himself, they will be called by the name they introduced themselves with - no matter how long the name. When abbreviations or nicknames are used, it will usually be done by family or friends (but even then, not continually so). But outside those circles, it would actually be considered a bit rude (or cheeky at best) to nickname someone without their consent, and more so if those persons continue with the nickname after the person has explicitly told them to call them by their proper name. For example, if my employer suddenly started calling me Cilleke, I would find it derogatory, as if he were belittling me in a way with something diminutive like that. Well, if you see what I mean. :s
Also, my sister (Angelique) has a longer name and she always is called by her full name. The few people that call her Anga or Angie are mostly family and friends. But even they rarely do so - when I do it myself, it's usually in jest.
Very strictly speaking, though, my name is actually a nickname, as Lucille is not the name on my birth certificate. It's actually Lucia, which - by the way - I have never been called by in my life. Ever. Same goes for my sister, who is actually named Angela. In my country (especially in the south), we have a kind of tradition where children are given an official name (for on the birth certificate) but are called a derivative of that name in real life. It probably has to do with older times, where people were officially named long-winded Latin(ized) names which weren't all that handy in real life. A man named Franciscus would be Frans, a man named Josephus would be Jozef, a woman named Aldegonda would be Alda, and so on.
However, contrary to English-speaking countries, those derivatives of the official name are not informal in nature. Here, those derivatives have pretty much the same status as an official name, as that is the name you are called by for your entire life. So they don't even feel like a real nickname: they're more 'serious', they are not used in the same way as true nicknames usually are (i.e. informal). For example, on school application forms, they will explicitly ask you for your name on your birth certificate, but also for the name that you are called by in real life (the so-called "roepnaam", literally "calling name"). They will then use your "calling name" for everything concerning you, such as name lists (for checking one's presence in a class), official school correspondence, etc. The names on the birth certificate are just a formality that you'll only use on official documents such as a passport or driver's licence, but apart from that, people will very rarily come into contact with their official birth names.
This status that these derivatives enjoy, have probably played a significant part in why I can easily go by Lucille in real life. There's a certain respect for it, people will respect the name that you introduce yourself with - if you see what I mean. They see it as an integral part of your identity, and will not try to force some of their own perspectives/identity on yours by starting to call you something that they (rather than you) would prefer. :)
This message was edited 6/24/2012, 10:00 AM
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