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free-engine
Barker
Joined: July 28, 2006
Posts: 182
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Aug 29, 2006 - 04:55 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Chinese's english name |
Whether Chinese people like to change english name frequently?
My colleague Silence(actually it's not a real english name) now her name is Fiona.Even sometimes I called her that I will think I am calling another person.So strange! |
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klj
Raver
Joined: June 23, 2006
Posts: 399
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 05:18 PM |
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Hahahaha, maybe cos it is not their registated names? i.e. not the name on their ID cards? I never met any chinese ppl change their chinese names a lot.
Klj |
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horsemandk
StreetBeater
Joined: Mar 23, 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 05:42 PM |
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It's because they're insecure they think by changing the name they change their identity and behavior  |
_________________
Those parts of the system that you can hit with a hammer (not advised) are called hardware; those program instructions that you can only curse at are called software. |
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Megs
Wonder Wit
Joined: Nov 12, 2005
Posts: 3822
Location: Jinshan, Shanghai China
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Aug 29, 2006 - 05:46 PM |
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I have students who change their names periodically. I think some of them do it because as they learn more, they just want what they think is a "cooler" name. And others I think just get sick of the name that their kindergarten teacher picked for them, or as a sign of rebellion from their parents. Haven't really run into any adults that have done it though.
Since it's not my "real" name (like on id) I'm on my second Chinese name. Hated the one on all my official documents when I saw it.  |
_________________
"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17959
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Aug 29, 2006 - 06:33 PM |
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mswp
Rocker
Joined: Mar 06, 2005
Posts: 722
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 06:34 PM |
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My adult students don't do it, but I taught summer camp, and had kids changing their names a lot. I use the top 20 most popular names from the US for the year they were born, and tell them to pick.
Some though, insist on Chinese style names -- Elite for one, and I saw more people naming themselves after sports figures. Had Kaka, Schumie and Peres in my classes. |
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Macpod
Veejay
Joined: Apr 15, 2006
Posts: 2195
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 07:38 PM |
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i think theres more chinese people on this site than laowais.
i never got an english so people always think im a fob. oh well, their loss. |
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Boronia
Reacher
Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 331
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 07:41 PM |
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On the subject of English names chosen by and/or for Chinese people, it strikes me as unfortunate that some Chinese people choose English names which may sound great in Chinese, but which, if that is the case, suffer badly in translation. As evidence, I give you: Handsome (sadly he wasn't , which rather made it worse); Windy; Table; & Noise (clearly a cousin of the earlier mentioned Silence). If they are happy with it, fine..but do they really appreciate the English speaker's reaction??
As for my own Chinese name, it is a lame copy of the sound of my own name & instantly recognisable as a foreigner name...if only it didn't mean running round town collecting a series of red stamps, I would change it!  |
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sioux
Ranter
Joined: Sep 11, 2005
Posts: 531
Location: Putuo, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 07:41 PM |
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I have some Chinese friends, who has also changed their name, a bit confusing but also fun. I think they just do it until they find one they like. I did it too, why not when you have the option of choosing yourself |
_________________
Scandinavian web design firm based in Shanghai - www.voxmediagroup.net |
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The_Meanderer
Fire-eater
Joined: Aug 11, 2005
Posts: 2734
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 07:55 PM |
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| Boronia wrote: |
| if only it didn't mean running round town collecting a series of red stamps, I would change it! |
Your Chinese name means 'Running Round Town Collecting A Series Of Red Stamps' ? That's a very cool name! |
_________________
I am not a hero. You know who's a hero?
Hiro. From Heroes. That's a real hero.
And Bono. |
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Boronia
Reacher
Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 331
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 08:33 PM |
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Megs
Wonder Wit
Joined: Nov 12, 2005
Posts: 3822
Location: Jinshan, Shanghai China
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Aug 29, 2006 - 09:03 PM |
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I feel your pain Boronia. The name my employer put on all my docs was "Mei Gan". Which all the primary school teachers laughed at, told me about Mei Gan Cai, and then went about picking me a new Chinese name.
Now it's Xia Tian. Much better I think, since before I got married my name was Summers.
Now my employer is saying I should change it to Xia Mei, since he said "an expert at picking names", and even tried to convince me that Mei Gan meant something really really wonderful, but could never say what. The other teachers in my office just scoffed at that.
My favourite student names are Brain (luckily, the kid is smart) Genius (another smart kid), Monkey, who said he was so named cause he looked like a monkey, and another boy named Baby (I can't help but think of Dirty Dancing whenever I hear that name. I was tempted to watch it in class with them.  ). Oh, and the Communist Party Leader for the schools son recently changed his name to Antony. Apparently he's been reading some history books, and felt he had to pick a name showing his father's "power". *L*
I like the idea of picking an English name from the most popular for the year they were born that someone suggested. I may have to try that since alot the new batch of grade ones don't even have an English name yet. (Oh, the feeling of power from naming someone elses kids. *L*) |
_________________
"What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." |
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Macpod
Veejay
Joined: Apr 15, 2006
Posts: 2195
Status: Offline
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Aug 29, 2006 - 09:22 PM |
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love that quote. i havent watched dr house for ages. |
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suziqueen22
Rocker
Joined: Sep 08, 2005
Posts: 666
Location: suzhou
Status: Offline
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Aug 30, 2006 - 12:13 AM |
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Some ppl they really change their name a lot, or have names they think "cooler", eg: When i mark the paper, see those students, they really pick very funny name...like.." ice", "fantasy"..." nickstar","forest"..."super"....etc.....Some of them are even not names!.....
Last time, one of the girls named "Lisa" and now, this week, her name is "Rita"....dont know what to say....... |
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