NAMING

Some days ago, I had the strange idea bout the possibility of using the names of people and places in its mother language abroad the world. Consequently, Spain would be España in any language (not a substantial change, at least in English); but Thailand would be ประเทศไทย /pratheidthai/ in any language (perhaps a little bit more substantial, at least in English).  It is funny to imagine my surprise when I realize I had to read a text about multiculturalism and minority rights. Any case, I spent some social moments of the previous week trying to carry out my idea. I asked to people from different nationalities how the name of his or her country was pronounced in its mother tongue, and also, showing respect, how his or her own name was pronounced in his or her mother tongue.

Due to culture and language are intrinsically linked (cite required), I find obvious that people whose language and culture is being valued, will feel their own identity being valued. I based this assumption in the Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) which collects the language as an element of the identity perception.

So that, my discussion question are like follow: Do the using of names of people and places in their original mother tongues have any effect in how people perceive minorities? Does this practice help multiculturalism?

I have developed a series of argument to base my posture, which is positive for both questions. My first argument is based on the intrinsic approach this practice provokes towards a wide range of cultures. Trough this small act, people is showing a huge respect for the conservation of the others’ culture and language. The merely fact of approach, linked with its inherent respect for the other, avoids some of the negative perceptions people have about multiculturalism as it shown in Verkuyten (2006). The insecurity and threatening feeling majority have towards minorities is lessened when the former group contacts directly with the latter. I consider substantial this insignificant approach towards the foreign culture, to hinder the evolution of some biases and fears that can be originated by segregation of cultures. Besides, showing this respect is a feasible proof of the effort from the population to include the practices and the culture of minorities in a, day by day, more globalized world. This inclusion must not be confounded with the process of assimilation; due to the identity of the minority is preserved and protected against extinction.

Secondly, this practice may provoke an enrichment of the speaker’s culture and language. Most of the times, the difficulties and limits to learn foreign languages are based in the lack of abilities to articulate determinate phonetic sounds. Thus, a small effort may provoke an amazing expanding in the communicative possibilities of the speakers. Another advantage is that, due to this approach, people could choose the language they want to learn basing their choice in criteria like the sonority of the language or its pronunciation.

From the point of view of cultural enrichment, as we had pointed at the beginning of the reflection, the language and the culture are intrinsically linked. This connection allows us to reaffirm our posture about the approach to a foreign language, which will provoke an approach to the culture. This approach to an external culture may cause the reduction of racist attitudes, observing the idea that most of the racist attitudes and stereotypes are based on wrong beliefs and ignorance. (Cite required).

World would evolve to a more tolerant and fair place just supporting the idea of approach different cultures. Tiny gestures as it is the pronunciation of names of people and places in the mother tongue could make a huge step in the way towards egalitarianism.

Greetings

Carlos Alcalá

PS. If, as a reader, you have any special interest in a broader argumentation of my ideas, please, contact with me through alcalamarcos.carlos@student.kuleuven.be

References

     Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33 – 47). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.

       Verkuyten, M. (2006). Multicultural recognition and ethnic minority rights: A social identity perspective. European Review of Social Psychology, 17(1), 148–184. doi:10.1080/10463280600937418