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HelpRe: Shuantaia...WDYT?
in reply to a message by Trudy
It sounds stereotypically lower-class, uneducated, and probably Black to me, sorry.
It's also made up, and not in the good way where you make up names from etymologically meaningful elements. This is made up in the "we'll just slaps some random, trendy sounds together!" way, and is etymologically meaningless. *Points significantly to the website's subtitle*
Miranda
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
It's also made up, and not in the good way where you make up names from etymologically meaningful elements. This is made up in the "we'll just slaps some random, trendy sounds together!" way, and is etymologically meaningless. *Points significantly to the website's subtitle*
Miranda
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
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Replies
WOW
as a moderator on this board, I would think you would have a little more *class* for lack of a better word. Lumping Lower-class, Uneducated and Black together makes it sound as though you think all African Americans are lower class and uneducated.
Even if you didn't mean it in that context (which, I pray you didn't) you should be a little more careful about what you say.
A
*Is walking away in shock from the blatant racism of the post*
as a moderator on this board, I would think you would have a little more *class* for lack of a better word. Lumping Lower-class, Uneducated and Black together makes it sound as though you think all African Americans are lower class and uneducated.
Even if you didn't mean it in that context (which, I pray you didn't) you should be a little more careful about what you say.
A
*Is walking away in shock from the blatant racism of the post*
1
Oh, not this again!
Lower-class Black parents typically choose different names than lower-class White parents. A lower-class White parent is probably more likely to choose Maddysin, while a lower-class Black parent is more likely to choose Sharnikwa. And that's been proven by scientific studies.
That's why I put "lower-class" and "Black" together in this case. Most people will assume a Shuantaia is Black based solely on her name, and a lower-class--and thus more likely to be uneducated--Black person at that. I am certainly not racist, just factist; and I certainly don't think all Black people are lower-class and uneducated.
Higher-class, more educated Black parents are more likely to choose more mainstream names that are popular with all ethnicities. Or, if they choose a more stereotypically Black-sounding name, it's more likely to be good ol' Ebony or possibly Raven, or maybe even something less stereotypical like Melanie ("black, dark" in Greek). They're much less likely to choose Takysha or Lanikia.
Btw, I don't believe in using the term "African-American". Not because I'm racist, but because there is such a thing as a White African-American. A White person may be born in Africa, and then move to America as an adult. Also, we're all African-Americans/Canadians/Japanese/German/Australian/whatever if we go back far enough.
Miranda
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
Lower-class Black parents typically choose different names than lower-class White parents. A lower-class White parent is probably more likely to choose Maddysin, while a lower-class Black parent is more likely to choose Sharnikwa. And that's been proven by scientific studies.
That's why I put "lower-class" and "Black" together in this case. Most people will assume a Shuantaia is Black based solely on her name, and a lower-class--and thus more likely to be uneducated--Black person at that. I am certainly not racist, just factist; and I certainly don't think all Black people are lower-class and uneducated.
Higher-class, more educated Black parents are more likely to choose more mainstream names that are popular with all ethnicities. Or, if they choose a more stereotypically Black-sounding name, it's more likely to be good ol' Ebony or possibly Raven, or maybe even something less stereotypical like Melanie ("black, dark" in Greek). They're much less likely to choose Takysha or Lanikia.
Btw, I don't believe in using the term "African-American". Not because I'm racist, but because there is such a thing as a White African-American. A White person may be born in Africa, and then move to America as an adult. Also, we're all African-Americans/Canadians/Japanese/German/Australian/whatever if we go back far enough.
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
1
You will notice that I did not ask you to use African-American that is simply what I feel comfortable using.
Also, it is not always what you say, but how you say it that gives people pause. Judging from your subject line, I am not the only one that has had a problem with this subject.
Uneducated, fine, lower class, fine, even my so hated expression "made up" would have been better, but the fact remains, you lumped in an ethnicity with two very degrating terms, whether you see it that way or not.
Also, it is not always what you say, but how you say it that gives people pause. Judging from your subject line, I am not the only one that has had a problem with this subject.
Uneducated, fine, lower class, fine, even my so hated expression "made up" would have been better, but the fact remains, you lumped in an ethnicity with two very degrating terms, whether you see it that way or not.
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Fine
I truly don't see anything really wrong with what I said, but if it makes you feel better I shall try and remember to say "I think this name sounds like it would be used by an uneducated, lower-class, probably Black parent." And I'll use "African-American" instead of "Black" when talking to you, in deference to your preference.
Would that be acceptable to you? (No sarcasm intended, despite what it might sound like.)
As for "made up", this is an etymology site that happens to focus on names. A made up name that's not formed out of elements that have meanings has no etymology, and isn't what a lot of people here are here for. There's a huge difference between something like Adelinda, which could be spontaneously made up out of Germanic æðel "noble" and linde "soft/tender", and Shalira, which is a combination of sha and lira and has absolutely no etymological meaning whatsoever. It's true that all names were once made up, but it's only really been in the 20th-century that names have been made up out of etymologically meaningless elements.
Miranda
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
I truly don't see anything really wrong with what I said, but if it makes you feel better I shall try and remember to say "I think this name sounds like it would be used by an uneducated, lower-class, probably Black parent." And I'll use "African-American" instead of "Black" when talking to you, in deference to your preference.
Would that be acceptable to you? (No sarcasm intended, despite what it might sound like.)
As for "made up", this is an etymology site that happens to focus on names. A made up name that's not formed out of elements that have meanings has no etymology, and isn't what a lot of people here are here for. There's a huge difference between something like Adelinda, which could be spontaneously made up out of Germanic æðel "noble" and linde "soft/tender", and Shalira, which is a combination of sha and lira and has absolutely no etymological meaning whatsoever. It's true that all names were once made up, but it's only really been in the 20th-century that names have been made up out of etymologically meaningless elements.
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks. Check my profile for their names.
1
Thank you...
Spot on with everything, as usual. However, I do differ in that, while I'd probably use Black in most situations, I'd absolutely defer to somebody's wishes... I.e., if a Black person asked me to use the term African-American instead, I would. But yes. I have a friend from South Africa currently living in the USA who's white. She and my Black friend from Zimbabwe occasionally have "African bonding" sessions, which definitely surprised some people at the beginning of the year. But for most African-Americans, their heritage is so long ago anyway...it'd be like me identifying as Irish-American even though my ancestors came over starting in the 1600s.
~ Caitlín
?????????????? ~ Elspeth, Merry, Tomás, Kip, Ælfwine, Adán, Marit, Bran, Ester, Andrew, Isobel, Jeromiah Andrea, Annit Elisabetta, Josue Alejandro
Spot on with everything, as usual. However, I do differ in that, while I'd probably use Black in most situations, I'd absolutely defer to somebody's wishes... I.e., if a Black person asked me to use the term African-American instead, I would. But yes. I have a friend from South Africa currently living in the USA who's white. She and my Black friend from Zimbabwe occasionally have "African bonding" sessions, which definitely surprised some people at the beginning of the year. But for most African-Americans, their heritage is so long ago anyway...it'd be like me identifying as Irish-American even though my ancestors came over starting in the 1600s.
~ Caitlín
?????????????? ~ Elspeth, Merry, Tomás, Kip, Ælfwine, Adán, Marit, Bran, Ester, Andrew, Isobel, Jeromiah Andrea, Annit Elisabetta, Josue Alejandro
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