tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post1039798072392927379..comments2023-12-04T10:02:29.445-06:00Comments on Mark's China Blog: Texas-Style XenophobiaMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-63342278921880780772009-04-16T22:21:00.000-05:002009-04-16T22:21:00.000-05:00I think it is easiest is to stick with the legal n...I think it is easiest is to stick with the legal name on the passport and green-card because dealing with public servants is a real pain if everything isn't exactly the same.<br /><br />My name, a typical anglo-saxon name but not quite common enough to be in ESL textbooks, has been mangled to death here in Japan. At first I tried, but then I realized how much time I lout out of my life and just accepted what they call me as long as it resembles my given name. <br /><br />In fact the only people who get it right are immigration and the police. Due to name mangling, my electric bill is issued to a completely different name. But Tokyo Power says that it is me...oh well, as long as I have electricity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-8317270360805985242009-04-15T23:47:00.000-05:002009-04-15T23:47:00.000-05:00I agree with her, everyone should adobt a good whi...I agree with her, everyone should adobt a good white christian name, where is the harm in that?Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-62428066270103695202009-04-15T09:01:00.000-05:002009-04-15T09:01:00.000-05:00"Over the weekend, Ms. Brown rethought her comment..."Over the weekend, Ms. Brown rethought her comments, or at least her political future, and apologized."<br /><br />HAVranihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11146856911519649653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-58711738686000510752009-04-14T23:10:00.000-05:002009-04-14T23:10:00.000-05:00My name ("Geoffrey") is an old-line European one w...My name ("Geoffrey") is an old-line European one with a pretty impeccable English pedigree. It's also been routinely mispronounced and mis-spelled my entire life. I can't recall the last time someone spelled it correctly, even when I appended my traditional "Jeff, with a 'G'" introduction.<br /><br />I say this to point out that having a local name is hardly proof against having to explain your name, often repeatedly. That's actually sort of liberating. I'd suggest your fiancee choose the name she actually likes the most; there's no reason people can't spend 2 minutes to learn her name. They do it for me all the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-29561352108364200162009-04-14T11:56:00.000-05:002009-04-14T11:56:00.000-05:00Dammit, Tian Tian! A nice consensus was building b...Dammit, Tian Tian! A nice consensus was building before you came in here and screwed it up!<br /><br />I'm just kidding, you more than anyone else would know what it's like being a Chinese person in a western country.<br /><br />It's funny, both you, Tian, and a previous commenter, Jian, have commented on Qian and her situation.<br /><br />That's priceless.<br /><br />This is going to be a complicated decision. I'm sure that if Qian goes with Qian, it is going to be a pain in the ass.<br /><br />Thanks for being playing devil's advocate in this discussion.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-58644216617938312982009-04-14T05:06:00.000-05:002009-04-14T05:06:00.000-05:00Hey rentacar,
Although I'd never change my name f...Hey rentacar, <br />Although I'd never change my name from Tian Tian, it's been a real pain having this name in Australia over the last 18years. <br />There are so many instances where you have to produce your name and there's always some confusion when I spell it, along with the obligatory explanation as to where it came from, what the meaning is, why I have 2 of the same names.<br />The pronounciation of it has been so bastardised that if anyone in Australia actually pronounces it correctly, I have to correct them to say it the Australian way. In waiting rooms, I often don't even know if they've called my name because you'd think that "Tian" can't have too many variations. It can. And I'm sure that Ts are much easier to pronounce than Qs. <br />I seem to be the only one endorsing the usage of Jackie. I doubt that it will somehow lessen her Chinese identity.<br />And if u've been calling her Jackie all this time, why not stick to it?Tian Tiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-25467756314424140342009-04-13T21:13:00.000-05:002009-04-13T21:13:00.000-05:00Taylor, your points are well-taken.
I know that t...Taylor, your points are well-taken.<br /><br />I know that the ' in O'Neal has been a pain in your ass all of your life. The digital age we live in does make that a pretty annoying thing.<br /><br />I might have been a bit rough on Ms. Brown, but she made it pretty easy for me to direct anger at her for her insensitive comments. Whether she had a point or not, she picked a pretty idiotic way to make her point.<br /><br />And now that I'm a China-hand, I don't have any problem with Chinese names. But the Indian names that you deal with in your IT job would definitely throw me. So I can understand where difficulty with these names would arise.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-81141521061201238472009-04-13T19:42:00.000-05:002009-04-13T19:42:00.000-05:00Thanks for all of the comments, folks.
It looks l...Thanks for all of the comments, folks.<br /><br />It looks like there is popular support for Qian. This should give Qian confidence about going forward with that name in America.<br /><br />I'm sure it'll be annoying at times, but as the first commenter said, being pronounced Kee-an is probably the worst thing that'll happen.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-48217032080235360642009-04-13T16:57:00.000-05:002009-04-13T16:57:00.000-05:00Qian is pretty; I will practice the pronunciation ...Qian is pretty; I will practice the pronunciation for the arrival. I promise not to call her Jackie Chian like Anonymous above*<BR/><BR/>*(That is unless she shows some sweet martial arts moves)<BR/><BR/>Ms Brown may be tactless and wrong in her suggestion but it does point to two real problems;<BR/><BR/>1. How to indicate what one would like to be called?<BR/><BR/>2. How do we identify one correctly in such a situation?<BR/><BR/>At work, we've had similar issues with Indian names and the given and surname reverse and Americanized names. We would like to respectfully refer to everyone correctly, but it is admittedly confusing sometimes and a good intentioned inquiry may be required.<BR/><BR/>I can only imagine the issues voting or at the aiport. I have trouble with only an apostrophe! <BR/><BR/>My best advice is to keep it as consistent as possible in paperwork (IDs, business cards, Airline Accounts) whatever the choice may be to prevent confusion. Though some computer systems will end up forcing you to do it another way. It happens.<BR/><BR/>On a related note, the TSA is going to be centrally managing the No Fly List now instead of the airlines and they are starting to be sticklers for absolute exact matches on ticket versus ID. I've had first and last name switches, Ms. and a host of others even after flying week after week with the same airline so I'm not looking forward to it.Taylor Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-89747631886887747362009-04-13T16:44:00.000-05:002009-04-13T16:44:00.000-05:00I've never changed my name in 40 years of living i...I've never changed my name in 40 years of living in Canada. It is my legal name, in my passport, in my drivers lisense, in my graduation certificates and I've never had any problems. But I named my children Kevin and Paul. So just be comfortable with yourself(ves). Jackie Qian would sound good or Jackie Q.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-11595492282155459792009-04-13T14:38:00.000-05:002009-04-13T14:38:00.000-05:00Most of the Chinese people I know living in German...Most of the Chinese people I know living in Germany (my wife included) have kept their full Chinese names without using any Western first names whatsoever. <BR/><BR/>Nobody seems to have any problems with it (except for the occasional need to explain spelling).<BR/><BR/>I think it would be a shame to drop the Chinese name. Mixing a Chinese and a Western name is already a compromise. That's as far as anyone should go, IMHO.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05980127611042973278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-44594209924940010032009-04-13T13:16:00.000-05:002009-04-13T13:16:00.000-05:00Completely agree, Qian is actually a really beauti...Completely agree, Qian is actually a really beautiful name. When I came to US 10 years ago, I had the same problem when people pronounced my name "Jian" wrong. I had to correct them everytime, but I do think it's worth the effort. Otherwise they will never have chance or never bother to learn the correct way. By keep my Chinese name, I felt I kept part of my identity and gave American people chance to get used to Chinese Pinyin. I am happy about it now.Jianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04582611600648522598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-56463428340311473902009-04-13T12:53:00.000-05:002009-04-13T12:53:00.000-05:00she should do whatever she darn pleases and people...she should do whatever she darn pleases and people can just figure it out. it's not that hard. <BR/><BR/>a friend pointed me to your blog, and as this was the first post and it resonates with me, i felt compelled to comment.<BR/><BR/>i grew up in the u.s.; my mother is from china and although when she had first arrived her high-school teacher insisted she go by "pauline," in all other situations she just used her chinese name. sure, people would mess it up, but she would correct them. <BR/><BR/>as i'm now in china i sometimes go by my chinese name so i don't have to go through the whole "how do you spell that?" when i tell a non-english-speaking person my english name; on the other hand, i don't even use the english name that was given to me by birth with other english speakers. i'm a big supporter of choosing one's own name. <BR/><BR/>anyway it's quite modern and fashionable to have an "ethnic" and exotic-sounding name these days, don't you know? i think it's pretty old-school, assimilation-minded style to go by an adopted english name these days.jane voodikonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08395027346252495721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-20533030339824860852009-04-13T12:41:00.000-05:002009-04-13T12:41:00.000-05:00Ms. Brown is just ignorant, and her comments shoul...Ms. Brown is just ignorant, and her comments shouldn't be given any credence. Honestly, I think her apology is sincere, but that's just my opinion. <BR/><BR/>As for Jackie's name change, I think "Qian Jacquelin" sounds fine. I know that the qi sound is pronounced "chee", and I think a lot of other people do too. Maybe I'm just mistaken though. Anyways, her name is just too simple for someone to butcher. The worst that could happen is someone calling her "Kee-an", right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com