Not long ago, I was told by some friends in the university that a Chinese-language teacher doing further studies in the Chinese Studies Department, had told her professor in all seriousness that she preferred to be known by her English, rather than Chinese, name.
I was shocked to hear that. While there are many Singaporeans with English names, there are occasions when it is appropriate for one‘s Chinese name to be used. It is thus truly sad to know that even a Chinese-language teacher should belittle her Chinese name.
Efforts to preserve Chinese cultural traditions must include Chinese names. The Chinese saying that “One never hides one‘s name no matter what” shows the pride one takes in one’s name and origin.
Unfortunately, Chinese names are now often relegated to oblivion. Some find it hard to pick a meaningful one while others will settle for any name at all. Either way, they are not used most of the time.
This phenomenon is not confined to individuals. Take, for instance, a Chinese drama serial which will begin shooting soon. The director, the cast, the script and even the English title have all been finalised - except for the Chinese title which “has yet to be decided”。
On the other hand, there was another serial earlier this year with a highly disputable Chinese title “何日軍再來”。 It shows the lack of emphasis by the production team on the cultural and historical context of the title and irate viewers were quick to criticise the station.
Similar oddities exist in the commercial sector. Many companies rely on simple transliteration with poor and careless choice of words. As a result, they sometimes lose great opportunities to promote the business with a carefully-chosen name.
I have seen a shop with the name “Sin Te （meaning ”new“） Material Supplier”。 This is akin to a property firm calling itself “Developer of New Homes” - it is just so direct and meaningless.
The attitude towards Chinese names seems to have gone to extremes. While some organisations or groups do not give a hoot, many people believe strongly in choosing an auspicious name that can help bring good“feng shui”and overcome obstacles in life.
For this purpose, many archaic words have re-surfaced and even new words created. The commonest method is to add one or more of the five elements of water, fire, earth, wood, and metal to one‘s name. This practice, which has been criticised by linguists and intellectuals in China, is gaining popularity here.
Picking a name is, of course, a very personal matter. But while others should not interfere, they are expected to address the person by that name. A name containing Chinese characters that look familiar but are unpronounceable will either make them feel they are not knowledgeable enough or ponder the origins of the words. Such a name will not serve much purpose, will it？
I have also been told that people with such “complex names” do not really want to go by them - they themselves may not understand what the names mean as they are used to their English names.
There is a connection between the two extremes. The declining standard of the Chinese language and the half-baked understanding of the essence of Chinese characters are the causes. The lack of emphasis on the need for Chinese language also plays a part. And the infrequent and indiscriminate use of the Chinese language also forms a vicious circle.
Money and effort will not be invested when the need for Chinese names is ignored or seen as unnecessary. The easy way out is to translate or just create one.
One must see the need for Chinese names in order to appreciate the meaning of this saying “A single word is worth a thousand pieces of gold”。 The same goes for translation. While a simple and straightforward translation is easy to understand, an idiomatic paraphrasing is more able to bring out the beauty and essence of the Chinese language.
（The writer is a Senior Sub-editor of Lianhe Zaobao. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
華人為何不重視華文名？
● 周兆呈
不久前聽大學(xué)里的朋友說,一位在中文系進修的華文老師,很認真地告訴授課教授,不要用華文名稱呼她,還是用英文名比較習(xí)慣。
華人自幼就重視書寫自己的華文名字
一聽之下,著實有些愕然。新加坡華人取英文名并不在少數(shù),但在需要使用華文名的場合,若連華文老師都對之如此菲薄,不能不令人感嘆。
如果我們說要重視華族的文化傳統(tǒng),姓名就是需要重視的對象之一。過去人們愛說“行不更名、坐不改姓”,就有珍惜姓名里的傳統(tǒng),不要忘本的意味。
而如今,華文名卻常面對尷尬的境地,難取、亂取、取而不用,不一而足。
華文名不受重視的現(xiàn)象似乎不僅僅止于個人。就拿近剛宣布開拍的一部華語電視劇來說,演員、導(dǎo)演、劇本都已經(jīng)到位,令人啼笑皆非的是,英文片名都已詔告天下,華文名卻還“暫時未定”。
也有亂取華文名的。就如電視連續(xù)劇《何日軍再來》,對文字背后的文化和歷史語境不加重視,引起了一些觀眾口誅筆伐。
工商界同樣存在類似問題。很多公司的華文名都是簡單的音譯,字詞的選擇馬虎輕率,白白失去以文傳名的機會。
曾見過一家商行取名為“新的原料供應(yīng)商”,就好比把房地產(chǎn)公司取名為“蓋新房子的建筑商”,真是“直率坦白”到了極點。
在如何對待華文名上,現(xiàn)在似乎存有兩個極端。一方面,很多機構(gòu)或團體對華文名不甚重視,草率待之；另一方面,也有很多人卻又特別“重視”、篤信姓名學(xué),希望用傳統(tǒng)的方塊字來克服命運風水中的不順。
于是很多早已被淘汰的偏字、僻字,甚至生搬硬造的字再次浮出水面。常見的是在名字部首加上金、木、水、火、土等偏旁。中國也曾出現(xiàn)過這種風氣,招致語言學(xué)者和文化界人士的批評。此風在本地尤盛。
按說取名是個人的自由,不應(yīng)妄加置評。不過起了名字,是讓別人叫的吧？看著那些似曾相識、但不知如何念起的怪字,讓人在感慨學(xué)識淺薄之余,也不禁妄自揣摩,到底是從哪個故紙堆里找到的這些字？取名取到這樣,也真是將漢字以形表意的特點發(fā)揮到極致了。
有朋友曾告訴我,有些取這類“復(fù)雜”名字的人,只是將華文名當個擺設(shè),真按照此名稱呼,他也未必聽得懂,因為長期習(xí)慣了英文名字。
正式場合不重視華文名稱,個人姓名之任取、亂用“傳統(tǒng)”,看似屬于兩個極端,其實有必然聯(lián)系。華文水平低落、對文字的傳統(tǒng)意涵一知半解是其因。另一方面則是缺少對華文受眾需求的重視。少用與亂用互為因果,循環(huán)相生。
在對華文名的需求視而不見甚至認為沒有什么需求時,自然不會投入精力和人力來斟酌合適的華文名,或干脆生搬硬造,或生硬從英文翻譯過來了事。
只有從華文名的需求角度出發(fā)考慮問題,才能挖掘出華文“一字千金”的意涵,創(chuàng)造字外意境的深邃。翻譯亦是同理,單純地直譯簡單淺白,而從華文受眾的習(xí)慣和角度出發(fā)的意譯,能發(fā)揮華文凝練、精辟之長。
I was shocked to hear that. While there are many Singaporeans with English names, there are occasions when it is appropriate for one‘s Chinese name to be used. It is thus truly sad to know that even a Chinese-language teacher should belittle her Chinese name.
Efforts to preserve Chinese cultural traditions must include Chinese names. The Chinese saying that “One never hides one‘s name no matter what” shows the pride one takes in one’s name and origin.
Unfortunately, Chinese names are now often relegated to oblivion. Some find it hard to pick a meaningful one while others will settle for any name at all. Either way, they are not used most of the time.
This phenomenon is not confined to individuals. Take, for instance, a Chinese drama serial which will begin shooting soon. The director, the cast, the script and even the English title have all been finalised - except for the Chinese title which “has yet to be decided”。
On the other hand, there was another serial earlier this year with a highly disputable Chinese title “何日軍再來”。 It shows the lack of emphasis by the production team on the cultural and historical context of the title and irate viewers were quick to criticise the station.
Similar oddities exist in the commercial sector. Many companies rely on simple transliteration with poor and careless choice of words. As a result, they sometimes lose great opportunities to promote the business with a carefully-chosen name.
I have seen a shop with the name “Sin Te （meaning ”new“） Material Supplier”。 This is akin to a property firm calling itself “Developer of New Homes” - it is just so direct and meaningless.
The attitude towards Chinese names seems to have gone to extremes. While some organisations or groups do not give a hoot, many people believe strongly in choosing an auspicious name that can help bring good“feng shui”and overcome obstacles in life.
For this purpose, many archaic words have re-surfaced and even new words created. The commonest method is to add one or more of the five elements of water, fire, earth, wood, and metal to one‘s name. This practice, which has been criticised by linguists and intellectuals in China, is gaining popularity here.
Picking a name is, of course, a very personal matter. But while others should not interfere, they are expected to address the person by that name. A name containing Chinese characters that look familiar but are unpronounceable will either make them feel they are not knowledgeable enough or ponder the origins of the words. Such a name will not serve much purpose, will it？
I have also been told that people with such “complex names” do not really want to go by them - they themselves may not understand what the names mean as they are used to their English names.
There is a connection between the two extremes. The declining standard of the Chinese language and the half-baked understanding of the essence of Chinese characters are the causes. The lack of emphasis on the need for Chinese language also plays a part. And the infrequent and indiscriminate use of the Chinese language also forms a vicious circle.
Money and effort will not be invested when the need for Chinese names is ignored or seen as unnecessary. The easy way out is to translate or just create one.
One must see the need for Chinese names in order to appreciate the meaning of this saying “A single word is worth a thousand pieces of gold”。 The same goes for translation. While a simple and straightforward translation is easy to understand, an idiomatic paraphrasing is more able to bring out the beauty and essence of the Chinese language.
（The writer is a Senior Sub-editor of Lianhe Zaobao. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
華人為何不重視華文名？
● 周兆呈
不久前聽大學(xué)里的朋友說,一位在中文系進修的華文老師,很認真地告訴授課教授,不要用華文名稱呼她,還是用英文名比較習(xí)慣。
華人自幼就重視書寫自己的華文名字
一聽之下,著實有些愕然。新加坡華人取英文名并不在少數(shù),但在需要使用華文名的場合,若連華文老師都對之如此菲薄,不能不令人感嘆。
如果我們說要重視華族的文化傳統(tǒng),姓名就是需要重視的對象之一。過去人們愛說“行不更名、坐不改姓”,就有珍惜姓名里的傳統(tǒng),不要忘本的意味。
而如今,華文名卻常面對尷尬的境地,難取、亂取、取而不用,不一而足。
華文名不受重視的現(xiàn)象似乎不僅僅止于個人。就拿近剛宣布開拍的一部華語電視劇來說,演員、導(dǎo)演、劇本都已經(jīng)到位,令人啼笑皆非的是,英文片名都已詔告天下,華文名卻還“暫時未定”。
也有亂取華文名的。就如電視連續(xù)劇《何日軍再來》,對文字背后的文化和歷史語境不加重視,引起了一些觀眾口誅筆伐。
工商界同樣存在類似問題。很多公司的華文名都是簡單的音譯,字詞的選擇馬虎輕率,白白失去以文傳名的機會。
曾見過一家商行取名為“新的原料供應(yīng)商”,就好比把房地產(chǎn)公司取名為“蓋新房子的建筑商”,真是“直率坦白”到了極點。
在如何對待華文名上,現(xiàn)在似乎存有兩個極端。一方面,很多機構(gòu)或團體對華文名不甚重視,草率待之；另一方面,也有很多人卻又特別“重視”、篤信姓名學(xué),希望用傳統(tǒng)的方塊字來克服命運風水中的不順。
于是很多早已被淘汰的偏字、僻字,甚至生搬硬造的字再次浮出水面。常見的是在名字部首加上金、木、水、火、土等偏旁。中國也曾出現(xiàn)過這種風氣,招致語言學(xué)者和文化界人士的批評。此風在本地尤盛。
按說取名是個人的自由,不應(yīng)妄加置評。不過起了名字,是讓別人叫的吧？看著那些似曾相識、但不知如何念起的怪字,讓人在感慨學(xué)識淺薄之余,也不禁妄自揣摩,到底是從哪個故紙堆里找到的這些字？取名取到這樣,也真是將漢字以形表意的特點發(fā)揮到極致了。
有朋友曾告訴我,有些取這類“復(fù)雜”名字的人,只是將華文名當個擺設(shè),真按照此名稱呼,他也未必聽得懂,因為長期習(xí)慣了英文名字。
正式場合不重視華文名稱,個人姓名之任取、亂用“傳統(tǒng)”,看似屬于兩個極端,其實有必然聯(lián)系。華文水平低落、對文字的傳統(tǒng)意涵一知半解是其因。另一方面則是缺少對華文受眾需求的重視。少用與亂用互為因果,循環(huán)相生。
在對華文名的需求視而不見甚至認為沒有什么需求時,自然不會投入精力和人力來斟酌合適的華文名,或干脆生搬硬造,或生硬從英文翻譯過來了事。
只有從華文名的需求角度出發(fā)考慮問題,才能挖掘出華文“一字千金”的意涵,創(chuàng)造字外意境的深邃。翻譯亦是同理,單純地直譯簡單淺白,而從華文受眾的習(xí)慣和角度出發(fā)的意譯,能發(fā)揮華文凝練、精辟之長。