Names and nicknames. Every country has its own system. I've lived in the UK, the USA and Singapore.
In Singapore in the Hash House Harriers people are given nicknames, some of which are insulting, whilst others are rude. This is traditional and dates back several years to the army. Then the runners enjoying a paper-chase were a leisure group to amuse the soldiers evening and weekends. It kept them fit, encouraged team-work, and kept them off the streets and out of trouble.
I think it's time to move on. From the Americans we have learned a lot about physiology, morale and motivation. The Americans say what goes around comes around. The Indians and Asians say karma.
The American army pioneered employee selection and job allocation, using psychological testing (Myers Briggs). These classifications are still used widely in the army and companies worldwide.
Given what we now know about psychology, we can use words to motivate. We need to encourage self-respect and respect for others. This prevents fights, arguments, insults, homicide and suicide.
I am opposed to negative names. They belong to the bad old days. I like positive names.
Naming for characteristics has been going on since biblical times. Originally people had one name. Then sons were named after their parent, usually the father. John was called John like his father. When he was little he was simply called John's son. Later in his life, and in a later era, he would be called Johnson. In English we also have Williamson, Richardson, Timson, Wilson.
I have been researching for my novel trilogy which starts in London's East End in the 1880s. That was at the time of when Queen Victoria ruled much of what became known as the Commonwealth or former Commonweal. Queen Victoria's favourite was The PM of England Disraeli, a man whose family converted to Christianity - necessary to be in government, but was of Jewish ancestry, of Italian-Mediterranean origin. I started researching names, discovering that Jewish names followed two distinct groups. Disraeli was from the Sephardi or Spanish and Portuguese origin. His friends the Rothschild bankers were Ahskenazis, or North Europeans, whose names reflected their language, German mixed with Hebrew (Yiddish) and Russian names.
From the time of Cromwell and the Quakers, and the Baptists, the Christians had taken 'Christian' names for Baptism and Confirmation, from the bible. They chose Old Testament names, New Testament names (Mathew, Mark Luke and John). Virtuous sounding names were popular, such as Faith, Hope and Charity.
Governments needed names for a census to count the home population and those in countries they conquered. The armies needed family names to identify recruits and call up.
In the UK public schools called boys by surnames, or Master (surname). Adults were Mister (surname).
In the UK we have public schools which are fee-paying. Originally church schools were private and the first fee paying schools were known as public school. In the USA a school where pupils pay is called a public school. A free school paid for out of taxes is called a state school.
If you name too many people, even two is too many, with the same name you need to add another name.
The 'calculating' Chinese, always good with money, named their children by order of birth, number one son, and so on.
Nowadays when texting we need to shorten time spent typing so we go back to one name. Another benefit of a nickname is that it gives anonymity where we are hiding our identity from hackers and ID theft on the internet.
A culture with a positive attitude names everybody with good qualities or qualities you wish them to have, such Hope, Charity, Good, Great, Honest. A nickname which is alliterative is easy to remember. One with a positive meaning attracts a smile and a happy outlook.
That is why I call myself Angella, the Angel. I introduce myself to foreigners and strangers as Angela - like an angel. I like to think I am both angelic, cute and full of goodwill.
The old meaning of angel was messenger. I am journalist and teacher, bringing knowledge, skills, and useful information and positive thinking and encouragement.
Angela Lansbury
Author of Quick Quotations. Speech writer. Speech Trainer. Immediate Past President Harrovian Speakers' Club, London, England. English tutor. Adult EFL worldwide on Skype. O and A level tutoring. (See books on Lulu.com. Also YouTube videos on speeches and English grammar. LinkedIn. Facebook.)
In Singapore in the Hash House Harriers people are given nicknames, some of which are insulting, whilst others are rude. This is traditional and dates back several years to the army. Then the runners enjoying a paper-chase were a leisure group to amuse the soldiers evening and weekends. It kept them fit, encouraged team-work, and kept them off the streets and out of trouble.
I think it's time to move on. From the Americans we have learned a lot about physiology, morale and motivation. The Americans say what goes around comes around. The Indians and Asians say karma.
The American army pioneered employee selection and job allocation, using psychological testing (Myers Briggs). These classifications are still used widely in the army and companies worldwide.
Given what we now know about psychology, we can use words to motivate. We need to encourage self-respect and respect for others. This prevents fights, arguments, insults, homicide and suicide.
I am opposed to negative names. They belong to the bad old days. I like positive names.
Naming for characteristics has been going on since biblical times. Originally people had one name. Then sons were named after their parent, usually the father. John was called John like his father. When he was little he was simply called John's son. Later in his life, and in a later era, he would be called Johnson. In English we also have Williamson, Richardson, Timson, Wilson.
I have been researching for my novel trilogy which starts in London's East End in the 1880s. That was at the time of when Queen Victoria ruled much of what became known as the Commonwealth or former Commonweal. Queen Victoria's favourite was The PM of England Disraeli, a man whose family converted to Christianity - necessary to be in government, but was of Jewish ancestry, of Italian-Mediterranean origin. I started researching names, discovering that Jewish names followed two distinct groups. Disraeli was from the Sephardi or Spanish and Portuguese origin. His friends the Rothschild bankers were Ahskenazis, or North Europeans, whose names reflected their language, German mixed with Hebrew (Yiddish) and Russian names.
From the time of Cromwell and the Quakers, and the Baptists, the Christians had taken 'Christian' names for Baptism and Confirmation, from the bible. They chose Old Testament names, New Testament names (Mathew, Mark Luke and John). Virtuous sounding names were popular, such as Faith, Hope and Charity.
Governments needed names for a census to count the home population and those in countries they conquered. The armies needed family names to identify recruits and call up.
In the UK public schools called boys by surnames, or Master (surname). Adults were Mister (surname).
In the UK we have public schools which are fee-paying. Originally church schools were private and the first fee paying schools were known as public school. In the USA a school where pupils pay is called a public school. A free school paid for out of taxes is called a state school.
If you name too many people, even two is too many, with the same name you need to add another name.
The 'calculating' Chinese, always good with money, named their children by order of birth, number one son, and so on.
Nowadays when texting we need to shorten time spent typing so we go back to one name. Another benefit of a nickname is that it gives anonymity where we are hiding our identity from hackers and ID theft on the internet.
A culture with a positive attitude names everybody with good qualities or qualities you wish them to have, such Hope, Charity, Good, Great, Honest. A nickname which is alliterative is easy to remember. One with a positive meaning attracts a smile and a happy outlook.
That is why I call myself Angella, the Angel. I introduce myself to foreigners and strangers as Angela - like an angel. I like to think I am both angelic, cute and full of goodwill.
The old meaning of angel was messenger. I am journalist and teacher, bringing knowledge, skills, and useful information and positive thinking and encouragement.
Angela Lansbury
Author of Quick Quotations. Speech writer. Speech Trainer. Immediate Past President Harrovian Speakers' Club, London, England. English tutor. Adult EFL worldwide on Skype. O and A level tutoring. (See books on Lulu.com. Also YouTube videos on speeches and English grammar. LinkedIn. Facebook.)
No comments:
Post a Comment