这是我向一个外国朋友讨教关于名字的信,他说得有些个道理
Dear Joshua, 20050618
Hello, I have a problem to ask to you. It’s about the name.
I have known about foreign name in the teaching books for a long time. It’s very monotony and simple, liking Jim, John or Lucy. But we see in the movie or in the real society, the name is very complex and very hard to read and remember, for example Schwarzenegger or Vanderlipp. Some of its derivation is very interesting. For example the son of Beckham is called Brooklyn that choice after conception in Brooklyn district in New York. That is very different in China. Do there have some principle about giving name to the baby?
One of my classmates is called Chen Fugui. ‘Fugui’ in china means riches and honor. You will easily to understand the hope of his parents.
In campus some names are very interesting and strange, even you don’t know how to read yet.
Do the any combination of letters can be a name of person? I want to use 'Brekai’ . But the word can not be seen anywhere. In fact it is made by myself. Of cause, we can not make a word by myself in China.
Thank you!
Best wishes for you!
Yous, Brekai
Brekai,
When you create a name or assign a name you of course want to consider the meaning, but it has become accepted in america to use a name that sounds good to you. This name might be Joy or Sunshine or rainbow or some other name that is not traditional. But these names are often seen as strange. I never met anyone named rainbow before, yet I know it is a name.People often use names that are derived from other words. A name like Louvre, in french, might be changed to Love because it is easier to pronounce. The meaning of the name might change, but the identity of the person does not so importantly come from the name, but the person and their character. There are people, and most people are like this, that are very sensative about the name they choose. I personally believe that if you use Brekai, know what you think it means. Perhaps someone might think that it is Indian or from another place, and will naturally ask you how it is pronounced. This is the freedom of the english language and its history and culture. Someone might think your name is strange and silly, but people will like what they want to like. Choose a name that you feel gives you respect and identity. This is the most important. The meaning will come out of it later.
I was thinking today about tradition, and where it comes from. Well, traditions are actions and actions were at one point begun. A fire festival, for example, wasn't always a fire festival. there had to have been a first fire festival. See your name as the beginning of a new tradition... :)
Joshua
