25 Nov The Importance of Being Called by Your Name
The Importance of Being Called by Your Name
By: Ann Heath-Huynh
As the year draws close to an end, we all seem to have different reasons to be scrambling about. Perhaps, in a rush to close business deals or to buy Christmas presents, or planning holiday events.
We get so caught up in our tasks that we may forget the little things in life: such as your name, and the sound of it.
Names painted on a bench as a tribute, featuring ‘Robert Wise’ prominently
I was prompted to write about this topic because of an email I received one morning last week. A colleague of mine here at NAJIT kindly sent an email just to ask me about my preferred name—given that I have a very long and unusual name.
This colleague not only has seniority in terms of age, but also in terms of work experience as a fellow linguist. This is someone for whom I have great respect.
That simple email showed me that he has a superb level of EQ and instilled a sense of gratitude in me. Unless you were born with easy-to-pronounce names like John, Mary, and David, you know very well how having a difficult name to pronounce can be quite embarrassing at times.
It can draw unwanted attention and/or can sound funny when others try to pronounce it. Many of my colleagues in the interpreting world who moved to the U.S. from another country, myself included, may have lived through the waiting room experience, the one when the nurse comes out of the exam room, looks down at the chart and all she can say is “Mr./Mrs.…uh…” That’s when it’s usually you, the one with a name that may be challenging to pronounce, and I mean both first and last names in my case.
For many people, hearing others say your name with the correct pronunciation/articulation may not be that important. Or, even worse, there may be some who have given up and/or gotten used to the incorrect version of their names. Like when my father lived in Thailand and most of the mail he received while he was there came addresses to a Mr. Brian Health. Well, his name was Brian Heath. He didn’t fuss over it and simply got used to it.
Colorful name cards with calligraphy, celebrating individuality
My last name is pronounced “win” as in “win-dow.” But I just roll with everyone pronouncing it “hun”. It’s easier that way. I got used to it. As a matter of fact, it surprises me when occasionally people get it right.
The people that we serve as interpreters, however, those who need our services, are people who speak a language other than English and their names are in another language. Unless it’s a joyous event, like a marriage ceremony, my experience in court with LEPs [Limited English Proficient individuals] are usually to assist them maneuver through the legal process. They are in a room with intimidating figures who are speaking a language that they don’t really understand. While going to court may be another work day for us, but it can be a life-changing event for some. Making a small effort to correctly pronounce their names can make them feel not only heard, but also respected. It is a small way to validate their identities as individuals.
A meeting in progress, with one individual speaking to a group
November is notorious for turkey dinner, pumpkin pie and gratitude.
Sometimes it’s ok to slow down a little. Take a quick stop and smell the roses. A simple act like this could make someone’s day or even change their life.
What has been your experience when working with LEPs when their names are not pronounced correctly in court?
Were you able to do something to make them feel that their voices are being heard?
Thank you for reading!
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A professional portrait of a smiling woman exuding confidence and warmth
Ann (Jiraporn) Heath-Huynh grew up in a bilingual Thai-English household, using both languages in day-to-day life. Having lived on four continents, she now calls the U.S. home. Following the birth of her daughter in 2010, the chance to work in the language field afforded her an opportunity to change career directions; what began as a part-time job became a career that she is passionate about. After being added to the Maryland Judiciary’s roster of interpreters in 2015, many opportunities opened up to her, eventually leading to Department of State Conference Interpretation for Thai and English. Although she works mostly as a conference interpreter, she has always considered Maryland courts to be her home. Whenever an assignment is offered, she is always pleased to accept it and proudly wear her first-ever interpreter’s badge as a Maryland Judiciary Court Interpreter.
So glad to read this article because I seem to have a unique and at times challenging name as well! My name is Sergia, I am a Spanish freelance Interpreter in NJ and I too struggle with getting people to pronounce my name correctly. As some may know, in our culture and homes we grow up hearing the version of your given name in your language. However, once in the US we must somehow conform to the “American” version of the pronunciation. It’s bad enough i didn’t get used to my own name till well in my 30’s since I’ve always heard my name pronounced as SergiO (and get addressed as ‘Mr’, or ‘Search’ or even ‘SergÍa’ when in all actuality at the end of the day it should be pronounced SED-HE-A.. but this topic reminds me of one day in a past job I found myself in an elevator with an individual whose name is from an African descent and I could not pronounce it so I asked him did he have a nickname or was there any other name he was called by, He very politely and firmly told me what his name was, that he did not have any other pronunciation and told me exactly how to pronounce it. Needless to say, from that day forth I have never forgotten how to say his name again. So at the end of the day I feel it is extremely important that if we choose to hold on to our birth name and it’s original intended pronunciation, that we make it a point to correct others when needed and not to have to conform to other’s laziness or lack thereof. Just my thought! Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving and may you always find a million and one reasons to be grateful and joyful!!
So important. I enjoyed reading this very much. The author has a keen insight into our work, but I would add that just as important as is one’s name is the person’s title. While we here in America take to using the title Ms for a woman, the limited English proficient females I encounter most appreciate the distinguishing titles Mrs. and Ms. For males, they appreciate titles Mr, Dr. and such in addition to their name and, of course, proper pronunciation of their name.
One recurring problem with names at Court is the spelling and misspelling of non-English names in Court documents along with distinguishing the surname from given names. Some Court records reflect a given name as the surname and even combine the two given names into one given name. The Court is always grateful when such corrections are made at the outset of a hearing.
I am sorry, but there are women who also are Dr and MD and JD etc etc, not only Mrs or Ms.
However, in reality, the “professional” lincensure” titles are also a relic from the past.
No need for any apology. Expounding on topics providing additional detail is always appreciated.
Wonderful article. I have to agree that it is the even the smallest actions in our line of work that can make an LEP feel respected in the process of navigating new systems in the U.S.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOcgUFTTzJw&t=11s
“She Uses a Weird Name”
This is an YouTube video address something similar. Thank you so much for sharing your article.
My Spanish speaking friends call me “Mee-Chel’. I don’t correct them. I even say it that way when I’m speaking Spanish. One friend even told me that her young daughter once asked her, “Quien es tu chel?” It had never occurred to me before that it sounds like they are saying “My chel”.
Thank you for this post, Ann. I used to correct people when I first moved to the USA. I used to say my name, Hilda, on the phone for example. Then they would ask for me to spell it. To that they would blurt out, “you mean Hilda”. ♀️ It no longer matters, because it does not change who I am. But I do my best to respect everyone by asking for the proper pronunciation. However I recently was talking to a friend, a monolingual person that speaks only English about a journalist butchering a name, and complaining that being a journalist the person did not make the effort to pronounced it correctly. Well we were both laughing until I asked him to pronounced it. Try as he may, he could not! We nearly choked with laughter. I guess some people can’t help it. I struggle myself with certain names that require sounds I am unfamiliar with. But I try! I can promise you that.
Great post! I learned this lesson long ago, while working at a retail establishment while I was in college. I had a frequent customer, an older lady who always paid with a credit card. For some reason, this came naturally to me, but I learned the lady’s name (and most of my customers’ names) from the CC, and by the 3rd or 4th time she came by, I greeted her, “Hello, Mrs. P___da. Nice to see you.” She flashed the biggest smile, and literally said, “Young man, there’s no sweeter music than to hear someone call you by your name. Thank you.” I remember her name to this day, 34 years later. From then on, I always look for people’s names when they’re wearing a name tag, even when I’m the customer, and I call them by their name.
I have noticed through the years, too, that there’s a significant decline in people’s ability to read, or perhaps a lack of exposure to words/names with pronunciations different than what they would sound like in English. Many seem to have a bit of a hard time looking at a word (name) and making an effort to read it or take a better-educated guess. Take my first name, for example, Ezequiel… I’m called “Esquivel” (usually a surname) all the time. It doesn’t bother me, but I do correct people. I bet if I were to change the spelling to include a K instead, Ezekiel, people would get it right nearly 100% of the time. Oh well…
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
What a great article, Ann! It’s so important to make an effort to get people’s name right, in our profession and outside of court. I make an effort to confirm names and make an effort to pronounce them properly, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes making a note of how a name is pronounced helps! As for my name, I’ll respond to almost anything beginning with an “R”. It would bother me at first, but I’ve adapted and don’t let it get to me anymore. Even Spanish speakers get my name wrong sometimes!
Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving!
This is a great help to me, an interpreter just entering the field. I can get caught up in the science and responsibility of it all, yet this article shines a light on just why I became a communication bridge in the first place! Thank you! Great wisdom.