“Choosing My Name” by Puanani Burgress is a poem that reflects Burgess idea of her identity and how it is related with her different names. Despite having three different names Chirstabella , Yoshie and Puanani, she particularly likes identifying herself as Puanani although it is not her “official name”. Strange as it sounds, I aslo have three different names: Basanta, Kancho, Xxxxxx. My third name Xxxxxx is my cultural name that I cannot disclose thus I have decided to write it Xxxxxx as it is made up of six letters. Xxxxxx is my favorite and preferred name because it connects me to my family, my culture and my land. In the poem, Puanani talks about her different name and their significance but ultimately identifies herself with her Hawaiian name. “ Chirstabella [is her] english name”. It is also her official name which she uses almost everywhere she goes. She says ‘[Cristebella is] the name I gave when teacher ask me for my “real” name a safe name.” Her negative connotation when she uses “real” suggests that she does not prefer this name. Secondly Yoshie is her home name which connects her to her father’s side of her family. This is the name that makes her acceptable to her family. Finally, Puanani is her Hawaiian name which she believes is her real name and her real identity. This is the name that relate her to the land she was born and the culture she is a part of. It is a burden for her not to be able to use her name Puanani even if she wants to. Puanani is her chosen name and her connection to the Hawaiian land regardless of what other people think when identifies herself by as Puananani.. Similar to that of Puanani, I have three distinct names and each name has its significance.First, Basanta is my offici... ... middle of paper ... ...ing process. Our cultural practices require us to keep our Vedic name secret. According to the ancient Hindu scriptures, witches and demons can use this name to control or kill you with help of their black magic if they found your Vedic name. However, Xxxxxx is my preferred name and the name that relates to my culture and the land where I grew up. It is “my piko name connecting to my aina”. It also connects me to my ancestors and enables me to feel their presences. Even though I highly prefer this name, I cannot use this name openly as I want to which is a big burden for me. Nevertheless, the significance it carries and the culture that prevents me to disclose this name are very important to me. The significance of my home lanf and my cuture is what makes this name very special. Therefore I feel comfortable sacrificing my preference over my culture and belief.
Hulga alo changes her name because of the true way she feels inside. Hulga is the ugliest name she could think of and it shows her inability to love or become close to anyone. ? One of...
Joy-Hulga from “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor and Dee-Wangero from “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker are strong protagonists who share similar motives and characteristics. Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero both change their names in an attempt to change themselves. They both share comparable motives and reasoning for changing their names. Similarly, Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero act selfishly while try to escape something from their past. Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero both alienate themselves from their mothers while in search of their authentic inner self. Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero are hiding from past childhood events, both consciously and subconsciously. Although their motives and characteristics are alike, their backgrounds and heritage are extremely diverse.
“Be who want to be,create a name for yourself”(Unknown). Being one is the greatest gift to society. Creating a name for one is important and key to striving in throughout society. A name will never define someone as a person. The person will define the name. The article “ ‘Black’ Names: A Resume Burden?” by Bootie Cosgrove- Mathers discusses, the burden many parents of color face when choosing their child 's name. The stereotypes set out throughout society on if a parent of color should name their children “black” sounding names is significant. Parents of color should name their children “black” sounding names to embrace their black identity, bring across equality, and end the negative stereotypes that come with “black” sounding names.
People from foreign ethnic group have names that is difficult to pronounce for native people. A typical response they get when they introduce themselves is a curious look and subsequently a question-- How do you pronounce your name again? The way a name is pronounced, it can shape how individuals see us and define our accomplishments. When an ethnic name is Americanized or changed or given nickname, it can change how people view his/her identity. Even in the job market, the employer is likely to hire candidate like them and sometime they judge a pool of potential candidates with the familiarity of name. As name can be connection to self identity and related to ancestry, people should not be biased based on name and how it is pronounced; people
The title The Namesake mirrors the struggle of Gogol Ganguli, child of Ashoke and Ashima, Indian foreigners to the U.S.A. to get personality in the way of life where he is conceived and raised with his strange name. Names do make them mean in India. A considerable measure of practice is done when a youngster is named in India. An Indian tyke for the most part conveys two names, a pet name and an official one. Pet names are for the family and neighbours and colleagues. They convey or may not convey meaning. In any case, official names are kept with a great deal of care and practice.
Through out Lawrence Hill's novel names are often linked to identity and have importance for his characters. For example, Aminata's character attaches huge importance to her name. For Aminata it is an inextricable part of her identity. It links her to her homeland and her family. When Chekura says her full African name she is overwhelmed that someone knows her name and describes how this makes her want to live. Having her true name be known is a way of having her identity affirmed and helps her feel connected to her family, home and to Chekura. In fact, Aminata's character defiantly makes reference to her full name, including the name of the town she was born in. Holding onto her name helps her remain connected to the land and people she has left behind and to her own life story and origins. Further underscoring the importance of names in one...
A name changing the identity of one is exactly what happened to Firoozeh “Julie” Dumas. Before her name change, Dumas was regarded as being one of those immigrants with a name no one wanted to learn. But after changing her ...
In the article “The Name Is Mine” by Anna Quindlen, she explains her story about her name, why she chose to keep it, and why it has such meaning to her. As a result of keeping her maiden name, there were many positive and negative aspects that went along with it.
Estevan explains that his original name is Indian, "Our true first names are Indian names...You couldn't even pronounce them" (204). The refugees had to change their name once they fled their country, "We chose Spanish names when we moved to the city" (204). The couple had to change their name in order to keep their identity a secret. Esperanza's name means both 'hope' and 'wait'. Esperanza is hoping to have a relationship with Turtle identical to her relationship with her daughter, Ismene, before she was taken away. Estevan's name means ‘crown’. The meaning of his name does not say who he is specifically. The female characters have meaning behind their names’; but the male characters don’t seem to have any definition. Later in the novel, the couple wish to go by Steven and Hope, American names, since they are now veiling in America. Taylor refuses to call her friends by their new covers. She had changed her own name “like a dirty shirt” and didn’t want to help the refugees modify theirs. Taylor believed Estevan and Esperanza’s names were all they had left, “They’re the only thing you came here with that you’ve still got left...keep your own names with your friends” (219). Taylor knew the feeling of when she changed her name. She was running from her past and chose to revise her name. The young woman felt lost and wanted to forget where she originated from. Taylor
One of the most striking parts of the novel Sugar, by Bernice L. McFadden is her choice of names, especially that of the main character, Sugar. McFadden chooses a name that was unconventional for the time period and remains unconventional today. Not only is there significance in the name Sugar, but the names Pearl and Mercy also have deeper meanings intentionally chosen by the author to further expand upon their roles as characters within the setting of the novel. Each of these three character’s names represent a persona that can be applied outside of the constraints of the novel.
I am (Rinad) that means “agarwood”, “aloeswood”, and generally, any tree that has a good scent. However, I gave it a different meaning. Based on my personality, it means loving the environment and adapting to different changes, it means helping others and not expecting any returns, it means accepting the social difference and having your own perspectives about the world. It would take me years listing what my name means to me and it will never end. I am an optimistic bright person who has cheerful dreams about the future. I love going on adventures and exploring my surroundings, I always like to look at things with different perspectives, to view the world from another angle, and reach the hidden meanings inside of them. I am honest, patient,
This paper is about the naming ceremony of Sikhism. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world and its adherents believe there are certain ceremonies that pertain to merging with “god.” The naming ceremony, Nam Karan, is one such ceremony that Sikhs observe. Every Sikh is required to start any function, project, ceremony, or any other opening in life by performing Ardas (Sikh prayer).” (Birth and Naming of Child) In America, names are decided solely by the parents but it is completely different in the Sikh culture.
That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet” (Shakespeare). Aname holds so much uniqueness and so many connotations whether positive or negative. Your name is one of the big factors that makes a person an individual as well as very self confident. Unfortunately as i’ve said before women were stripped of their names which played a huge part in losing a part of who they were. A quote that displays personality is when offred gets in the car that Saturday morning in September and she says “My name isn’t Offred, I have another name, which nobody ever uses now because it is forbidden. I tell myself it doesn’t matter, your name is like your telephone number, useful only to others; but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter” (Atwood, 84). This shows a different personality because of the role that she has in society her name was changed to represent property to Fred. This displays a different personality because she doesn't like her name and struggles with Emotional Labor, she has to subside her emotions and feelings of wanting to be addressed and use her real name but has to be obedient and follow the rules of society but referring back to Shakespeare and the quote, when Offred is called anything other than what her real name she knows that it’s not the “Real” her rather it is the person who society enforced a role upon and molded her to be society expects her to
Dee wants to emerge as dependent on her African heritage. She changes her family’s name to more African style name, Wangero. Dee also changes her fashion style to a more traditional African style. Dee depends on her new heritage as history, while her mother dependence of it is practical use. Dee pushes away her mother’s traditional values, but keeps the history of them instead of their everyday use.
At first I thought about changing my name to a short one because I have a long last name that consists of eleven letters. It then crossed my mind that if I had a short name like Ali or Rita it wouldn’t be as interesting as having a long first name. People would be more concerned with my last name as opposed to my first name, which I believe is more important. Not only that, but it would also amuse me to have a first and last name that is difficult to pronounce; it would give people a challenge.