Should foreign students have to "anglicize" their names if we think it sounds offensive?

[brainhulk]

Professor who told student to 'anglicize' her name placed on leave

"If I lived in Vietnam and my name in your language sounded like Eat a D---, I would change it to avoid embarrassment," the instructor allegedly wrote.

news.yahoo.com

Matthew Hubbard, a mathematics instructor at Laney College in Oakland, told the student, Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen, that her name "in English sounds like F-ck boy"

The professor needs to phuc off and learn the correct pronunciation.

 

[VirtualLarry]

He's not wrong.

If someone's name is "Ho Lee Phuc Yu", then yeah, adopt an "Angelicized" name. Nobody in the USA wants to pronounce your name.

We don't consider it wrong, when someone adopts a religion, and takes a new name based on that religion. Why should it be any different than adopting America? (Becoming a citizen.)

If you don't want to do that, then feel free to always be referred to as "Hey Yu", or "Hey buddy", rather than your name.

And if you think otherwise, then what about the liability that you are placing on those that are around the person in question, such as instructors, and what is possible with "deepfakes", if you get them on recording with a phone, say, saying the last part of the person's name, "Phuc Yu". Can you imagine how people could be set up that way?

So yeah, I'm all for them adopting an "Americanized" name. Just like they should adopt the English Language when they come here, they should adopt an English-language name to fit in.

Edit: Think of it this way, it's really all about cultural expectations or cultural norms. If the student came from an African country, and was female, and was used to showing their upper half uncovered in the bush, would we as Americans have to "tolerate the foreigners style of dress"? Of course not. Learn to dress like an American if you are coming over here, we don't (normally, I'm in favor of allowing breast-feeding in public) allow women to bare their tops in public.

 

[allisolm]

I had friends in Germany who used her last name when out socially as his was Ashlock, which, when spoken by Germans came out as Arschloch which means a**hole. So, yes, in that case I agree with the substitution. It eliminated a lot of awkwardness.

Do I think they should have to change it? No. Not doing so seems to have worked out fine for Akbar Oluwakemi-Idowu Gbajabiamila. Although I don't think there's anything offensive about the name, I won't ever be able to pronounce it, but to each his own.

 

[Iron Woode]

My boss and his brother had their first names anglicized when they moved to Canada. This was due to their names being very different from English names. They are from Albania.

On a personal note: my family name was anglicized when my grandparents came to Canada from the Ukraine back in the late 1920's. This was done to be less conspicuous and blend into their new homeland.

 

[IronWing]

I dated a woman who kept her married name for a couple years after her divorce rather than return to her maiden name of Dickfist.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I met two Japanese twins once, one was named Fook Mi and the other was Fook Yu.

 

[lxskllr]

I want to change my name to Fook Yu. I feel like I've missed out on a life of fun :^(

 

[Spacehead]

Matthew Hubbard, a mathematics instructor at Laney College in Oakland, told the student, Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen, that her name "in English sounds like F-ck boy"

The professor needs to phuc off and learn the correct pronunciation.

Any idea what the correct pronunciation is? Seeing a name spelled out vs hearing it pronounced can sometimes be 2 very different things.

No one should have to change their name, in my opinion. But if it's explained to to someone that heir name sounds like something offensive then they could choose a nickname to use for everyday use. Or not.

Just wondering now-
She's going to collage here, but is she planning on staying here or going back to Vietnam? Can you have 2 different names in 2 different countries, legally?
If i'm Bob Jones & i move to some country where it's offensive to say out loud can i change it to Joe Smith in that country?

 

[ondma]

Emphatic "NO", they shouldnt have to change their name.

 

[brainhulk]

Any idea what the correct pronunciation is? Seeing a name spelled out vs hearing it pronounced can sometimes be 2 very different things.

I believe they pronounce Phuc the same way we say Luke. Someone Vietnamese should probably validate this though

 

[Mai72]

When I worked in South Korea all of my students had English names. Now a big deal in Asia.

That could be a big deal in America though.

 

[Red Squirrel]

No they shouldn't unless they WANT to but they should not be forced. From what I heard some Chinese people actually do pick an English name to go by but think it's by choice only.

 

[BoomerD]

Should they HAVE TO? No, but they shouldn't be surprised or offended if people constantly mis-pronounce their name or make fun of it either...and "VirginalLarry," I agree with you 100% about learning the language.

 

[IronWing]

John Parker
John Whorfin
John Bigbooté
John Emdall
John O'Conner
John Gomez

should work.

 

[Captante]

Her name reads/speaks to me as: "Fvck-boy" in english.

If she's fine being addressed that way I say give the girl what she wants!

Anyone seen Mike Hunt?

 

[BoomerD]

Imagine if other countries adopted English sounding names to avoid offending or confusing Americans.
"Hello and thank you for calling Dell customer support. My name is Steve and I am so happy I am standing beside my self when I am answering your call."

 

[Red Squirrel]

Imagine if other countries adopted English sounding names to avoid offending or confusing Americans.
"Hello and thank you for calling Dell customer support. My name is Steve and I am so happy I am standing beside my self when I am answering your call."

Some scammers do that, it's hilarious.

*very thick accent* "Hi, this is Steve from Windows Computer, we have detected a virus on your computer and need to go in to fix it".

 

[Captante]

 

[dasherHampton]

This thread made me chuckle a bit.

Reminds me of the comedian who was talking about a German family who's last name was Hitler. They obviously had to change it.

So they changed it to Shitler.

 

[Captante]

Nothing to do with the OP but still a classic!

 

[IronWing]

Her name reads/speaks to me as: "Fvck-boy" in english.

If she's fine being addressed that way I say give the girl what she wants!

Anyone seen Mike Hunt?

Mike went to town with Hugh Jorgan.

 

[Doom Monger]

My Vietnamese neighbor Die Imperialist Yankee Dogs would probably be offended if forced to change. Having a name like Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen might hold you back professionally, especially if you're not in porn, but that's a can of worms that just can't be opened in the current climate. If you want to change it on your own fine, but suggesting that someone else change their name would be viewed as something close to hate crime.

 

[Captante]

If you want to change it on your own fine, but suggesting that someone else change their name would be viewed as something close to hate crime.

This has no bearing on it being good advice however, politically incorrect or not.

Also it's done very frequently as anyone who has made a call to tech-support of any kind can confirm ... unless "Bob" or "Steve" have suddenly become common names in India?

However if being mocked constantly is something a person enjoys who am I to stand in the way?

 

[sdifox]

Worker in a learning institution refuses to learn. More at 11.

Also Americans should be very familiar with that last name, Vietnam War and all that.

 

[Doom Monger]

This has no bearing on it being good advice however, politically incorrect or not.

Unless being mocked constantly is something a person enjoys in which case who am I to question?

Yeah, well, telling parents that their kids are stupid, obnoxious, ugly and too damn fat and that unless said kids want to grow up being constantly mocked they need to hit the books, learn some manners, get plastic surgery and eat less might be "good advice", but it's not going to work and it would not be taken as someone honestly trying to help. But go ahead and give it a go, if you manage to not get shot the first time you try it we can learn from you.