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HelpRe: Question about names and cultures
in reply to a message by RegalAmethyst
I think it's because America has included people of a lot of different cultures and many Americans have more than one national/ethnic identity. And then, there is the fact that there are very few names you could identify as American in the same way you could Irish or Swahili. I've heard a lot of Americans want to use for example Irish names to honour their Irish heritage and yeah, I think it is because although there is a strong sense of what is "American" there is not a distinctive language or a long indigenous history. Also, American has become the norm and the price is that loss of coherent identity.
Ideally, I would like all names to be usable by everyone and all cultures to be seen as human rather than belonging to certain nations but in practise, it's more difficult. I think if you are part of a dominant culture, using names from other cultures seems like appropriation. I don't know why but I think a white American using an African name would be problematic where the reverse wouldn't be. Maybe someone can explain that. It also depends on whether you care about the meaning and context of your name or whether it just sounded cool. It's one thing to appreciate different cultures and another to use a name because it's exotic and not bother with the implications.
This is pretty disjointed and rambling so I apologise! Hopefully some of it makes sense. I think it's an interesting question and one I've thought about recently too.
Ideally, I would like all names to be usable by everyone and all cultures to be seen as human rather than belonging to certain nations but in practise, it's more difficult. I think if you are part of a dominant culture, using names from other cultures seems like appropriation. I don't know why but I think a white American using an African name would be problematic where the reverse wouldn't be. Maybe someone can explain that. It also depends on whether you care about the meaning and context of your name or whether it just sounded cool. It's one thing to appreciate different cultures and another to use a name because it's exotic and not bother with the implications.
This is pretty disjointed and rambling so I apologise! Hopefully some of it makes sense. I think it's an interesting question and one I've thought about recently too.
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I think if you are part of a dominant culture, using names from other cultures seems like appropriation.
I've also wondered about this, which is why I'm asking this question in the first place. You actually described it much better than I did. Why is it that it's ok for someone who isn't white-European/American to use a white-European/American name and not the reverse? The one thing that I do not want to see is American trends becoming the generic or one-size-fits-all of naming trends, where all of these other amazing names from different cultures are neglected because they aren't generic or one size fits all. I am mildly and possibly un-justifiably worried that globalization really means Americanization, mostly because of the name thing and McDonalds (etc) invading the world like a parasite.
Ha! All of my posts seem disjointed and rambling to me. If your post is rambling, which I don't think it is, you're in good company.
I've also wondered about this, which is why I'm asking this question in the first place. You actually described it much better than I did. Why is it that it's ok for someone who isn't white-European/American to use a white-European/American name and not the reverse? The one thing that I do not want to see is American trends becoming the generic or one-size-fits-all of naming trends, where all of these other amazing names from different cultures are neglected because they aren't generic or one size fits all. I am mildly and possibly un-justifiably worried that globalization really means Americanization, mostly because of the name thing and McDonalds (etc) invading the world like a parasite.
Ha! All of my posts seem disjointed and rambling to me. If your post is rambling, which I don't think it is, you're in good company.
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I don't think American/English names will be really generic. Naming your child Madison in China is still a statement. America is certainly dominant but sometimes that helps people define and strengthen their idea of cultural identity in contrast. Anyway, in America itself there's an interest in avoiding the generic and making a name unique. I hope globalisation will make more people aware of different cultures and their value and our common humanity etc...at it's best I think it's a very worthwhile thing.
What worries me is the complacency a lot of English speakers pick up, where we don't bother learning other languages or promoting it because everyone will speak English. I think learning another language gives you a different frame for thinking and is really important and beneficial, and I wish we emphasised it more in education. I think it can put us at a great disadvantage. It might be better in America where Spanish is also a major language, for me in England there was a fairly half-hearted compromise between French and German. It would be nice if other British languages were mentioned in the English curriculum too. Bit of a digression but names and languages are pretty tied up together.
What worries me is the complacency a lot of English speakers pick up, where we don't bother learning other languages or promoting it because everyone will speak English. I think learning another language gives you a different frame for thinking and is really important and beneficial, and I wish we emphasised it more in education. I think it can put us at a great disadvantage. It might be better in America where Spanish is also a major language, for me in England there was a fairly half-hearted compromise between French and German. It would be nice if other British languages were mentioned in the English curriculum too. Bit of a digression but names and languages are pretty tied up together.
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I don't think that they'll become completely generic either and I'm certainly no trend watcher. I guess my it's just my namenerd sensibilities. Every time someone is named Jennifer because it's more normal than Parvin (or whatever) it makes me a little sad at the missed chance for diversity. Not to say that I don't respect the reason why they do that. Blah. I wish I could give you a better answer, but in the last two hours I've gone from tired to barely conscious. I agree with the rest of your post.
This message was edited 7/15/2011, 6:04 PM
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Now I see your other question clearly- I think it's because places like Germany and France etc. retain their culture and some European countries have naming laws to protect it! America is the barbie doll of the world- you can do (be) what you want to do / (be) haha.
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Naming laws! Oh, that is a good point. Of course it would be nearly impossible to have naming laws in the U.S. and I'm not saying that I'd want any, but I suppose if you're going to live in a country where there are so many different cultures living together and (hopefully) mixing, at least a bit, it would be nice to not be shackled to English and English appropriate names. Bit of a dream there, I think.
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