The Naming Art for English Names英语名的取名艺术.doc

The Naming Art for English Names英语名的取名艺术AbstractThe background of the thesis exists in the various environments of society. With the development of our modern society, many countries, China has already stepped into the line of the world for years. More and more people in the business or elsewhere are beginning to realize how important the English name really is.Therefore, getting the knowledge of name culture to obtain an ideal English name is becoming the necessary for people. Therefore, people should learn the knowledge of obtaining an ideal English name; people should do some surveys in order to get a nice English name. To meet the peoples needs, the thesis concludes many methods for people to appreciate. For instance: the first part is the exploration of English names root, which makes more people know the additional meaning but not only the surface meaning of English names. The second part is general principle should be familiar when you are ready to obtain an English name. Just as: meaning and origin, how to match family name and indicial name well, and so on. The third part is different people with different names, which mainly deal with names individual character. Here exist different names for the babies, students or workers. And finally, some examples with the detail materials supplied to meet the peoples needs.Key WordsEnglish names; connotation; root; naming摘要本篇论文的背景知识存在于这个变化无端的社会里。随着时代的发展，很多国家已经步入世界，其中以中国为首。因此，越来越多奋战于商场或其它领域的人逐步认识到英语名字真正的重要性。因此，了解姓名文化已成为人们取一个理想的名字的必要。因此，人们应该学习一些取名知识，做一些取名的调查研究。为了迎合人们的需要，本论文包括了一些取名的理论与方法供人们参阅，例如： 第一部分是对英语姓名根源的探索，这可以帮助人们了解英语姓名的更深意思，第二部分是英语姓名的总体规则，例如项目的意义和根源，怎样结合姓与名。第三部分是姓名的个体差异, 针对小孩、学生、工作者应该取怎么样的名字做出了分析。最后，本论文列举了实例，并附以详细解释，以满足人们取名的需要。关键词英语名字； 内涵； 根源； 取名IntroductionAccompanying with the flying time and developing society, China presents itself before the world with power and energy. At the same time, it is indisputable that China will communicate with other countries frequently, especially the English speaking countries. So Chinese have many chances to communicate with the world. Of course, it is the high time that people needed an English name when people went abroad to travel, study, do business and work in a foreign company, they only to find that our partner can not understand the meaning of the names or pronounce the names easily. Therefore, owning one English name has become one requirement and new vogue.Name, as a comprehensive symbol, its direct function is to unique the name of owner from others for people to call and distinguish. So, if people want to have a nice name. It would be better to do a little research than just directly pick one name from dictionary.As is known to all, the English name is important in a world which dominated by the language of English. Name is not just a human-beings code; it also represents many peoples nature and connotation (including character, occupation, background, education, social status, as well as advantages and disadvantages). But not all names are created equal. Some of them carry unwanted connotations; some of them are so rare that they sound as foreign as some Chinese do-some Chinese names would draw sniggers and laughs; some of them would simply be inappropriate. Maybe, this thesis will bring people with exciting benefits of obtaining an ideal English name.The Exploration of English Name RootsThe formation of name revealed consanguinity and blood, in another word, we Chinese called it as carry on the family line or succession. The family name succeeds generation by generation. The blood link the family member, gene show a continuation of life.In order to select a good English name, at first, we should do some exploration of the English names root and also learn the content of the names content. Generally speaking, the root of the English name directly come from Bible, Greek, Latin, English, German, Hebrew, Irish and Spanish, etc, and English name commonly includes three parts: The first name (sometimes, we also called it Christian name or the given name), the middle name and the family name (the last name). For example: William Jefferson Clinton, William is the first name, Jefferson is the middle name and Clinton is the family name. Charles Robert Darwin, Charles is the first name, Robert is the middle name and Darwin is the family name. But the middle name will be deleted at most time. For instance: George Bush. And many people would like to replace the first name with nickname. Just as: Bill Clinton. Even now, the nickname has become the formal name.As to the exploration of the English name, we can simply divided it into three parts: the root of the first and middle names, the root of nicknames and the root of surnames.A. The Root of the first and middle NamesAccording to the custom in English-speaking countries, when a baby received the baptism, the pastor will gift the baby a Christian name (the first name or the given name). Of course, the owner also can obtain another name as the first name after 16-year-old.As mentioned above of the individual name (the first name and the given name), I would like to introduce some relative knowledge, especially, the root of the individual name-the first name and given name. Firstly，The name came from Bible, Roman deify, Greece deify, German and the literary masterpiece.Secondly, people took the ancestors nationality, river and mountains, flowers and trees, birds and beasts, or pearls and jewels as the name.Thirdly, many derivatives developed from the Christian name.Lastly, the nickname became an independent name (that is the nickname instead of the first and the given name) after a long times usage.B. The Root of NicknamesEnglish names often include the nicknames, which are relatively unfamiliar to Chinese users. Such as Catherine is the nickname of Cathy Andy, William is Bill. And the last one is not regular, just like the United States President Bill Clinton is William Clinton. Clinton declared that William Jefferson Clinton would be the formal name in his inaugural.Nicknames sound childish sometimes. In English-speaking countries, calling a peoples nickname is just an ordinary thing. However, if a child was called Margaret Peggy, but Peggy may feels too childish and unsuitable when he was in mid-aged.Generally speaking, it has a long history that nickname was used as a separate name. The nickname Tina Christina can be an example. According to The New American Dictionary of Baby Names, in the early of 20th century, Tina Christina has been used independently. Of course, in China, people do not understand the nickname, nor often call the nicknames. Whether is it necessary to select one nickname, it depends on every individual.In English-speaking countries, to show the intimacy, nickname is called among relatives, friends or colleagues. The methods of forming nickname are shown below.Firstly, keep on the first syllable as nickname, for example: Donald Don, Timothy Tim.Secondly, keep on the last syllable as nickname, for example: AnthonyTony, Beuben Ben. Thirdly, adding ie or y at the end of the name, for example: DonDonnie, Tim TimmyFourthly, divide one name into two nicknames, for example: Andrew Andy and Drew.Fifthly, some changes without regular pattern, such as William Bill.C. The Root of SurnamesIn the ancient England, peoples name without surname is one common thing until 16th century. From that time on, using surname turned into popular with all walks of life. And the surnames could come from these ways as follow:Firstly, those names directly came From Christian name, such as: Clinton, Darwin, and so on.Secondly, some affixes could show the pedigree relation, like the prefixes: M-, Mc-, Mac-, Fitz-, the suffixes:-s, -son, -ing, and so on.Thirdly, some affixes could show the peoples status, and will attach to the before of the Christian name, St-, De-, Du-, La-, Le-, etc.Lastly, some words could show the peoples profession or identity, just like Smith, Carter.II General Principles of Obtaining an Ideal English NameIt is commonly believed that almost everyone would like to own an ideal name, and it is true that in normal social interaction, the refine and profound name often leaves deep impression on people. However, people feel repulsion for the vulgar name. A very normal thing with exquisite ornaments will receive extraordinary results. Choosing a name with historical connotation and aesthetic pleasure will be enough to decorate, super induce, color peoples life. It will be better if the name pronounce changefully and beautifully. Naturally, we can adopt many ways to select one appropriate name. But we shouldpay attention to these following points:A. The Meaning and the Root of the NameWhen people want to obtain an English name, they can ask somebody to do a favor or do it ourselves. People can find a favorite name from Bible, Roman deify, Greece deify, or the literary masterpiece.The same as the Chinese name, the English name also play a role in our modern society for each individual of Chinese. The significance of the name is usually carrying the expectation of their parents or elders to their children. So, people can choose a name with a positive meaning, such as wisdom, hope, joy or a name full of sunshine. In our country, English names are not more considered as significance as a factor than Chinese name. Chinese name are variety, but when people call an English name, we usually confused by the meaning if we only use our ear or month. Of course, we would not pay much attention to it. When people want to make a name, please do avoid having to find a date, and do choose the one pleasing to hear.B. The First Name and Surnames AgreementAs to the people who were ready to obtain an ideal English name should know the basic principles- a short name goes with a long surname, a long name matches a short surname, popular name goes with harmony with particularly surname, popular name fit with particularly surname and so on. And these principles would be good examples for Chinese users while match their Chinese surname to the English first name, and also, people should pay more attention to the two points as follow:Firstly, due to structural differences in language and culture, people probably less sensitive to such issues below. Both the surnames prefix and suffix are vowels should be avoidable. Such as: Eva Anderson. Secondly, apart from the vowel, consonant sometimes also will trouble the English name. The reason is like the trouble in vowel and even sounds hard. This is the first consonant of the name is the same like the consonant of the surname. Linda Lee and Tammy Tung are the case in this point. However, recently, the popular name -Lucy Liu is also the so-called "troubled" name. So it seems not a too serious problem! This is just for the reference only!C. The Names ConcisionThere has been sufficient recognition of the magnitude of the name culture, but now people began to explore the name culture from a fresh perspective, based on tradition and concrete event, the blood of name culture reveal the historic function of blood in social development and social life.The popular trend is also happened on names for every two or three decades. For example, in 1900-1950, “John” had been in the top 10 popular names, but in 1960, even after 1970, the name John was no longer a popular name! This tendency for name can be said “to catch up with the date.” But if people do not like their English name flowed in the markets, please dont considering to take a very popular name. Otherwise, in order to tell the two “Michael”, people had to call them “Michael B” or “Little Michael”. Having a unique name is also a way to show the self-performance characteristics. But it is also easy to cause others hard to read or remember. Unique or fashion depends on the personal preferences and choices.One useful guideline can avoid names with other connotations. This is a simple rule to say but a difficult one to apply unless people know a lot about Western culture. The connotation sometimes will not have terrible meaning, but they may change a little at times, many people would not name their children Adolf Hitler anymore after the period of Adolf Hitler. Research on the name carefully, people can use the network system or make inquiries for Westerner, which could avoid to use a famous serial killers name. D. The Difference between the Mans Name and the Womans NameLike Chinese name, the English names also have the oblivious sexual features. The pronunciation of an English name sounds like a girls name in Chinese, may be it is the boys name in English. One story told like that: one Chinese named his daughter “Lennie” with feminization when pronounced in Chinese, he felt nicer till his American friend pay a visit to him. When the Chinese showed the American his daughters name, his friend blurts out “oh, he must be a handsome guy”.Otherwise, there exist a good number of bisexual names in recently years, such as Chris, Pa, Carol/ Carol, Leslie/ Lesley. If one enjoys oneself in internet and hesitates to discover ones sex, it is a good choice for one to select that kind of name.III. Individual Characters of NamesFrom the names originator and evolution, they have buckled one countys material life and spiritual life. The names composed intricately and comprehensively and played an important role in polity, culture, and social activities, thus becoming independent, unparalleled name culture.Usually, people do not know what kind of English name is fit for his baby. I am a student, what kind of English name should I make? I am a worker, what kind of English name should possess by a worker? As to these questions, people should study much about the name culture from the background, development, the popularity and the future tendency. So, this part suggests that what kind of names suit for the babies, the students or the workers.A. The Names for BabiesName of a new life gathered the parents deep love and sincere expectation, the metaphors of which include different aspiration, hobby and pursuit: parents hope their children do credit to the ancestors, live a promising life, achieve object. There is one famous motto that “favoring the offspring with treasure is inferior one skill, at the same time, which is inferior to one gratified name.” In present-day society, more and more young couple would gift their babies with not only one Chinese name to show the emotion, ambitious and sprit, vigor, but also an English name, fashion and pleasant to hear before the baby born.Parents, besides those principles as stated above, should pay more attentation to these methods or take these references as follow.Firstly, names of the babies relay on the hobby of parents somewhat.Secondly, in English-speaking counties, in memory of parents, relatives, or friends