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In language classes, did you choose your name or get assigned one? Or use your regular name? (discuss.online)

submitted 3 days ago by IHatePepRallies@discuss.online to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In Spanish class, we get Spanish names and can choose what we’d like to be called from a list. I’m Francisca (or Paca) because it’s similar to Francesca, my online name.

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[–] isyasad@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Spanish: pick your own name
Japanese: must use the Japanese-ified version of your name, eg Smith -> Sumisu, and people will usually refer to you by last name.

In retrospect, it was kinda strange to pick names in Spanish. It would be really strange / unacceptable to just pick a random Japanese name for yourself, and I've heard that it's really rude to pick a name for yourself in American Sign Language. I wonder why it's so widely accepted to do so for Spanish.

[–] rants_unnecessarily@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why would it be rude? Who's gate keeping the names?

[–] isyasad@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

You do not invent your own name sign. Name signs may only be given by a person in the Deaf community. Some hearing people (like interpreters and teachers) mistakenly give name signs without realizing they are in violation of Deaf culture traditions. However, a name sign cannot be assigned by a hearing person.

American Sign Language has deep cultural and linguistic significance. Typically, it is not until you are involved in the community that you are given a name sign. In fact, not everyone within the Deaf community has a name sign.

From article
It's like a cultural thing. This still doesn't really answer why it's like that in the first place, but I think in general the reason it feels inappropriate to name yourself in another language is that it feels "cringe" for lack of a better word. Somebody picks a name that has all kinds of cultural and colloquial associations without understanding them at all.
That's kinda my theory of cultural appropriation; it's not wrong because of some deep ethical reason, but rather it's just often uncool. People sending signals that they don't understand themselves.