Names
Someone once told me that you can tell American writing from most other countries from their names.
They were right. American writers make up the most ridiculous names.
Philosophically, what is a name? I suppose to Americans, a name is something unique, an imprint that defines the touted individuality. I grew up being the only person with my name until my last year in high school. In college, I met a woman from Sweden. She says, every other person has that name in Sweden!
Amusing, how it works like that. At the time, I felt kind of ill and betrayed and rather delighted in the way of, sotto voice, you are not alone....
Do I agree or disagree? I can't say for sure. You see, on the one hand, I scroll through these books, and I'm scoffing at the plethora of names that just seem... illustrious to the point of outrageous, beautiful with their own spelling! On the other hand.. on the other hand, I have a nephew named Tyr.
I had a hand in naming him, sort of; we were talking about names, and I said, in the off chance I ever had a child, I would go through a history or mythology book and find one that resonates, that has a meaning I want to help gift the child. (or something along those words). She comes up to me and says, Steven and I are naming him Tyr. I say, oh, the Norse god, who was renowned for his wisdom, of battle and bravery and unflinching honor as the wolf Fenrir bites off his hand? Well, she did follow my advice.
It's still a unique name. I doubt he'll grow up with any other kid with his name. Therefore, under my previous reasoning, a very American name. In practice, however?
I think I'm kind of proud of them. I still think it's ridiculous in writing, though.
And dude, the least you folks can do is figure out a method to the madness. Takes place in England? What are the most popular names there at the moment? Go from there. Made up country? pick a language to base it on, and keep ALL those characters in that parameter of names. Bring sense to the nonsense. Please.
EDIT: Reading Maderr's post below mine in the friendly page we share, I see Sen and laugh. Spirited Away in Japanese is called Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi. The kanji for Chihiro, when written on the contract, is cursed to take away half the meaning of the name. Going from plural kanji to singular changes the interaction of individual characters, turning it from 'Chi' to 'Sen.' Totally never thought of this example in my rant. But the Japanese title makes a little more sense now, doesn't it?
They were right. American writers make up the most ridiculous names.
Philosophically, what is a name? I suppose to Americans, a name is something unique, an imprint that defines the touted individuality. I grew up being the only person with my name until my last year in high school. In college, I met a woman from Sweden. She says, every other person has that name in Sweden!
Amusing, how it works like that. At the time, I felt kind of ill and betrayed and rather delighted in the way of, sotto voice, you are not alone....
Do I agree or disagree? I can't say for sure. You see, on the one hand, I scroll through these books, and I'm scoffing at the plethora of names that just seem... illustrious to the point of outrageous, beautiful with their own spelling! On the other hand.. on the other hand, I have a nephew named Tyr.
I had a hand in naming him, sort of; we were talking about names, and I said, in the off chance I ever had a child, I would go through a history or mythology book and find one that resonates, that has a meaning I want to help gift the child. (or something along those words). She comes up to me and says, Steven and I are naming him Tyr. I say, oh, the Norse god, who was renowned for his wisdom, of battle and bravery and unflinching honor as the wolf Fenrir bites off his hand? Well, she did follow my advice.
It's still a unique name. I doubt he'll grow up with any other kid with his name. Therefore, under my previous reasoning, a very American name. In practice, however?
I think I'm kind of proud of them. I still think it's ridiculous in writing, though.
And dude, the least you folks can do is figure out a method to the madness. Takes place in England? What are the most popular names there at the moment? Go from there. Made up country? pick a language to base it on, and keep ALL those characters in that parameter of names. Bring sense to the nonsense. Please.
EDIT: Reading Maderr's post below mine in the friendly page we share, I see Sen and laugh. Spirited Away in Japanese is called Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi. The kanji for Chihiro, when written on the contract, is cursed to take away half the meaning of the name. Going from plural kanji to singular changes the interaction of individual characters, turning it from 'Chi' to 'Sen.' Totally never thought of this example in my rant. But the Japanese title makes a little more sense now, doesn't it?