| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you change people's names according to the language you're speaking (e.g. Helen vs. Elena)? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Kirill Semenov 
Ukraine
Local time: 01:26
Member (2004)
English to Russian
+ ...
My auntie whose name is Alla (quite a typical Russian name) went to the GB. After two months of living and working there, she was told by the local Muslim people that it was not that good to have the name of God (Allah). So now she is Alice. I don't discuss any political or religious problems here, it's just an example from real life which I think is worth considering.
| | | | Heidi C
Local time: 18:26
English to Spanish
+ ...
efreitag wrote: I 've always found it amazing how very popular your utterly German (and beautiful) name is in different languages 
Thanks efreitag
(though everyone around here thinks of Heidi and Switzerland...)
| | | | | Mine and my children's | Nov 2, 2007 |
If I say my name is Anne, they cannot believe that's a name and I have to repeat it three times, ending up explaining it's the same as Ana. So, I just say I'm Ana (for people who don't know me and won't supposedly have an impact in my life - for the people I know I will have to deal with often, I take the time to "explain it all").
We tried to give our children names that (apart of pleasing us) would be easily pronunciable by people from the countries we were most likely to live in,... See more If I say my name is Anne, they cannot believe that's a name and I have to repeat it three times, ending up explaining it's the same as Ana. So, I just say I'm Ana (for people who don't know me and won't supposedly have an impact in my life - for the people I know I will have to deal with often, I take the time to "explain it all").
We tried to give our children names that (apart of pleasing us) would be easily pronunciable by people from the countries we were most likely to live in, that is Ecuador (SP), the US (EN) and Belgium (FR).
So we called them
-Nicolas
-Caroline (here in Ecuador people say Carolina)
-Anaëlle (for this one, we failed the English part, and it showed while we lived in the US: people would say Ana-ee-elle !!!)
-Clara
And people naturally call them what that name is or sounds like in their own language... And whenever I speak with people, I do that too...
[Edited at 2007-11-02 03:18] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | People's names, no... | Nov 2, 2007 |
I change mine....
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Rebecca Hendry
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:26
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
+ ...
I have always gone by the name of Becky, ever since I was a child, but I find that the pronunciation often causes problems abroad (I've been called everything from Betty to Beaky to Vicky), so when I'm in Spain I tend to call myself Rebecca as Rebeca (with one "c") is a pretty typical name over there.
Rebecca is my official name anyway, so it appears on my passport and is the one that I have to use in any paperwork I may fill in. But it always seems so stuffy to me, and reminds m... See more I have always gone by the name of Becky, ever since I was a child, but I find that the pronunciation often causes problems abroad (I've been called everything from Betty to Beaky to Vicky), so when I'm in Spain I tend to call myself Rebecca as Rebeca (with one "c") is a pretty typical name over there.
Rebecca is my official name anyway, so it appears on my passport and is the one that I have to use in any paperwork I may fill in. But it always seems so stuffy to me, and reminds me of when I was in trouble as I child, when my parents used to shout "Rebecca Anne Hendry! What have you done??!!??". ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 01:26
Turkish to English
+ ...
| Since moving to Cyprus, yes | Nov 2, 2007 |
Greek Cypriots generally use the English-language cognate form of their name when dealing with English speakers. So a man actually named "Giorgos" will answer "George" if asked for his name in English. I think this is because Cyprus was once a British colony.
| | | | | So is mine, but... | Nov 2, 2007 |
Henry Hinds wrote:
My daughter's name is Elena and that she remains.
Have people always called your daughter Elena, and not Elana, Alana or even Ellen?.
If I got paid for every time English-speaking people call me something that is not Elena, I would be writing this in an exotic island !
| | | | Beatriz Galiano (X)
Argentina
Local time: 19:26
English to Spanish
+ ...
I do it with my advanced students all the time, just for them to get used to how their names would sound. And, those that cannot be translated I pronounce as a native speaker would, that is part of their learning.
If I am speaking in a foreign language with a foreign national, chances are I'll keep the conversation in the foreign language, names included whenever necessary or possible.
When it comes to professional translation, I do what I am supposed to do in each cas... See more I do it with my advanced students all the time, just for them to get used to how their names would sound. And, those that cannot be translated I pronounce as a native speaker would, that is part of their learning.
If I am speaking in a foreign language with a foreign national, chances are I'll keep the conversation in the foreign language, names included whenever necessary or possible.
When it comes to professional translation, I do what I am supposed to do in each case.
[Edited at 2007-11-02 09:58] ▲ Collapse
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| Experience of a friend of mine | Nov 2, 2007 |
I never had any problems with my name, since it is an international name, and thanks to Ingrid Bergman, quite recognizable. But a friend of mine from Croatia lived in US for a couple of years and his name is Hrvoje (a very typical and common Croatian name, which in fact means "Croatian man"). The name is almost unpronounceable to English speaking people, so after several months of trying to teach people how to pronounce it, he gave up. After that, whenever anyone asked him his name, he would say... See more I never had any problems with my name, since it is an international name, and thanks to Ingrid Bergman, quite recognizable. But a friend of mine from Croatia lived in US for a couple of years and his name is Hrvoje (a very typical and common Croatian name, which in fact means "Croatian man"). The name is almost unpronounceable to English speaking people, so after several months of trying to teach people how to pronounce it, he gave up. After that, whenever anyone asked him his name, he would say: George ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Leave my name alone! | Nov 2, 2007 |
There are, as we have been observing, many occasions when we can play around gently with a name, but when it comes down to it, your name belongs to YOU, it is your property and as such, is not to be tampered with by others. I am also amazed at the amount of native speakers of English who cannot seem to remember to repeat my name correctly (Noni rhymes, for want of a better one, with pony, and not with bonny).
I try my very hardest to pronounce all people's names correctly when I am ... See more There are, as we have been observing, many occasions when we can play around gently with a name, but when it comes down to it, your name belongs to YOU, it is your property and as such, is not to be tampered with by others. I am also amazed at the amount of native speakers of English who cannot seem to remember to repeat my name correctly (Noni rhymes, for want of a better one, with pony, and not with bonny).
I try my very hardest to pronounce all people's names correctly when I am addressing them, and get absolutely incensed when my husband suggests to our children that they should pronounce their second surname in a Spanish fashion. That said, I will do just the same immediately after having announced my surnames with their correct pronunciation in order to help others either to find them on a list or to write them down. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 18:26
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| call people what they wish to be called | Nov 2, 2007 |
When I taught German as a foreign language, I *invited* the students to correct my pronunciation, having been the victim of a non-phonetic family name for most of my life (Roensch, nice German name, went to Texas ca. 1850, and got, well, mangled). Some of my Asian students used initials, some used names, some of the other students used nicknames (I had a Spike once) or middle names.
On historical names: in a translation for general audiences, I follow Oxford, so both Germany and ... See more When I taught German as a foreign language, I *invited* the students to correct my pronunciation, having been the victim of a non-phonetic family name for most of my life (Roensch, nice German name, went to Texas ca. 1850, and got, well, mangled). Some of my Asian students used initials, some used names, some of the other students used nicknames (I had a Spike once) or middle names.
On historical names: in a translation for general audiences, I follow Oxford, so both Germany and France were ruled by various Henry's; in a translation for medieval historians, then I maintain the original; if from a manuscript source, then I even maintain spelling(s). ▲ Collapse
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aceavila - Noni wrote:
There are, as we have been observing, many occasions when we can play around gently with a name, but when it comes down to it, your name belongs to YOU, it is your property and as such, is not to be tampered with by others. I am also amazed at the amount of native speakers of English who cannot seem to remember to repeat my name correctly (Noni rhymes, for want of a better one, with pony, and not with bonny).
I try my very hardest to pronounce all people's names correctly when I am addressing them, and get absolutely incensed when my husband suggests to our children that they should pronounce their second surname in a Spanish fashion. That said, I will do just the same immediately after having announced my surnames with their correct pronunciation in order to help others either to find them on a list or to write them down.
My name is mine and you have your own. I find it kind of rude changing someone's name to follow a certain language's version of that name without seeking his/her approval first. I usually correct people who baptize me another quite similar name. I just don't like the idea because I love my name and you should respect it if you do respect me.
On the other hand, I never change people's name unless of course they agree about it. I usually ask a new acquaintance how he/she prefers to be called. Some people have a lot of nicknames depending on the people they meet. I for one, could easily say your relationship (whether you are a colleague, close friend, relative or merely an acquaintance) to me by the way you address me. It helps me a lot specially when I receive anonymous SMS.
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Orsolya Mance
Hungary
Local time: 00:26
Member (2004)
English to Hungarian
+ ...
| Not unless they asked me to... | Dec 1, 2007 |
...and I wouldn't want mine changed. I have nicknames that are easier to pronounce, and I don't mind it much if it is not pronounced correctly, but I used to work as an au-pair, and after explaining to the family that my name was the same as Ursula in English they just started calling me that. It didn't bother me at the time - but now I think I would think it extremely rude if someone decided that instead of learning to say my name they were just going to give me another one.
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