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Original poster

Why do some 'Brits' feel the need to re-name anyone anyone with a 'funny foreign' name with an anglised version?

96 replies

bauble99 · 22/12/2006 21:34

We've just taken on a Polish guy to cook/serve and tidy up the kitchen afterwards in one of our nurseries.

He came to the interview with his (Polish) wife because he was worried that his English wouldn't be good enough for the interview (it was.)

He has all of his paperwork in order, a 'Food Hygeine' cert and a CRB check from his last job in an OAP's (elderly care) home. Although, crazily, we need to do another CRB check as a new employer, even though the last one was only done 4 months ago. Sounds like a bit of extra income for Mr Brown?

Anyway, his name is Jacek, pronounced 'Ja-sek' - not difficult, eh?

The staff, not the elderly folk (I could maybe understand them not getting to grips with his name) decided that they would call him 'Jack.' because 'it's easier.'

We, of course, will call him by his name.

We also have a Pakistani Nursery Nurse called Afsha who was called 'Ruby' - because "Afsha's a bit hard to say, innit?"

No, her name is Afsha.

OP posts:
SchneeBallFight · 22/12/2006 22:25

I have a chinese friend who calls herself Helen but I would not take it upon myself to give her a name if I found her chinese name tricky. I dont mind calling her Helen because that is what she chooses to be known by.

Original poster
bauble99 · 22/12/2006 22:28

NQC. He was definitely going for the 'J' option.

A lot of the slavic languages interchange, AFAIK.

We employ Poles who can talk to Czechs and Slovakians. And as our nursey is in an area where there are a lot of Eastern European contract (3 - 5 year stay) workers, this has been very useful.

I dunno. Maybe I'm over reacting on his behalf, but it just strikes me as ignorant to change a, let's face it - easy to pronounce name, to something more 'English.'

OP posts:
Original poster
bauble99 · 22/12/2006 22:30

Nursery. What is wrong with my typing tonight?

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 22/12/2006 22:34

I used to have a boss (evil evil evil evil hellbitch of a cow she was ) who had a bee in her bonnet about this being racist.

The office manager of the adjoining office had a name that the person who did my job before me couldn't pronounce. "It's racist!" my evil boss would say, "I mean, it's hardly difficult to get somebody's name right!"

Then she'd say "EEEEE-von" to Yvonne, who pronounced her name...er..."Yvonne" and I'd want to punch her in her stupid head.

Original poster
bauble99 · 22/12/2006 22:44

I not even sure that it's racist munker, that's the thing. It's just so narrow-minded.

It's the same mentality that insists on fish and chips in any country to avoid eating the 'greasy foreign food.'

Having said that, Ol' Jamie Oliver had a hard time persuading some Italians to eat his food in Italy because he was 'foreign.'

Yvonne's a bit French too, innit?

OP posts:
FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2006 22:46

Ilaws call dd3 sheenra, her name is Serena

hunkermunker · 22/12/2006 22:46

I don't think it's racist, to clarify. My boss had a real bee in her bonnet about people being racist, when she couldn't see that she couldn't even manage to be a decent human being most of the time (God, she was evil). This was a charity I worked for, btw - she was director of welfare

Cashncarry · 22/12/2006 22:49

Fairytale in New York - read your IL's mispronounciation as "Sheera" and was pmsl laughing for no reason! Have you not corrected them?

FestivelyFoggyFloss · 22/12/2006 22:52

I used to work with a xenia which I could never get my head around, no matter how hard I tried. I did try though, I must say. Either that or just tried wherever possible not to use her name [blush

Cashncarry · 22/12/2006 22:54

Apologies to anyone whose DD is called "Sheera"

Can't help the association to He-Man in my infantile head...

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2006 22:57

i have tried to correct them. but then FIl calls her semolina. what can i do? it really makes my hackles rise though.

Cashncarry · 22/12/2006 22:59

really am pmsl now - "Semolina"

ffs - surprised you haven't lamped them!

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2006 23:00

ah he thinks he funny.

Cashncarry · 22/12/2006 23:04

Get DD to correct them - might shame them into saying it properly. It's not hard is it and btw it's a beautiful name

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2006 23:06

well she is only 22months atm. but if he calls her semonlina, she gioes 'nah' at him

Cashncarry · 22/12/2006 23:10

Do you think it'll be like one of those nicknames that stays with you 'til adulthood - she'll have kiddies of her own and he'll still be calling her "Semolina"!!

[Sorry to OP for taking this thread completely off topic!]

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2006 23:12

nah lol. everyone else calls her nina, which i dont mind. sheenra annoys me as its just lazy pronounaction (i cant spell tonight). Nina came about as dd2 cant say her S's easily (under SALT) so its easier for dd2. but then dd2 was Lollipop till she was 2 then insisted her name was Lauren, so it stopped.

wickedwinterwitch · 22/12/2006 23:12

Oh totally agree Bubble. We had a Sharanjit at one place I worked who was known as Sharon.

Remember the English waiter James being called Jarm es in Goodness Gracious Me?

Chandra · 22/12/2006 23:21

What I will never understand is why people in England insist in calling me Pauline when I have an English name. Worst part is I already respond to it

We use shorter versions of our names although all our official documents are in the lenghty version. (DH, DS and I have 2 names and 2 surnames each, although we just use one name +first surname, in my case, to avoid people asking me ad nauseum if DH was my third husband!)

Chandra · 22/12/2006 23:28

BTW... not only brits change names, I was also given modified versions of my name... (Palmira????? FGS!!! , actually I like Pauline better! )

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 22/12/2006 23:30

my name is Sarah. so why do people read it and call me Sara? surely people do know the difference dont they? its a rah at the end ffs.

Tortington · 23/12/2006 01:18

lisa. i am lisa.

why then do people call me liza?

pronounced leeza

there an ess god dammit!

hunkermunker · 23/12/2006 01:20

I get called Hoonkermoonker by people from oop north (say...Oldham?)

WeWishUAMerryXmasNANappyNewYr · 23/12/2006 01:31

where i can pronounce it i will but where i can't i will pronounce it as i it comes out of my mouth. i won't purposely change it cos it is easier, just say the name as i can iyswim.

Tortington · 23/12/2006 02:02

i think you will find that oop north ( where we does say things proper) there us no ther way of saying hunker munker than hunkermunker

down in sussex 9 at the brighton meets in posh places) they does call ye hoonermoonker