What is in a name

[said]

I have on several occasions made the error of accepting what I thought was a Christian/Surname of certain foreign people, when it actually has been a form of address.

The most confusing are those of people from India and Pakistan. Not only do they have a traditional caste system - similar to, though more strict, than our own class system, that has its own form of address - there are a large number of languages spoken in their own country, each having its own form of address.

Recently I was obliged to contact someone with the name Lovely Begum - not long after I received a letter from Momtaz Begum. Are they related? Not necessarily, the name I assumed a surname 'Begum' is similar to that of Mac, as in MacDonald etc., meaning Son of.

Life is going to become far more complex than it was with just Smith or Jones.

[Ceam]

I have on several occasions made the error of accepting what I thought was a Christian/Surname of certain foreign people, when it actually has been a form of address.

The most confusing are those of people from India and Pakistan. Not only do they have a traditional caste system - similar to, though more strict, than our own class system, that has its own form of address - there are a large number of languages spoken in their own country, each having its own form of address.

Recently I was obliged to contact someone with the name Lovely Begum - not long after I received a letter from Momtaz Begum. Are they related? Not necessarily, the name I assumed a surname 'Begum' is similar to that of Mac, as in MacDonald etc., meaning Son of.

Life is going to become far more complex than it was with just Smith or Jones.

So no difference then! As you stated very similar to Mac.

[seivad]

Recently I was obliged to contact someone with the name Lovely Begum - not long after I received a letter from Momtaz Begum. Are they related? Not necessarily, the name I assumed a surname 'Begum' is similar to that of Mac, as in MacDonald etc., meaning Son of.

No it's not. For a start off it's a Muslim word, and only used by women. It can be used before or after their given name, so, to us, could easly be mistaken as a first name or a surname. It's not a name at all, just a term of respect. I have a Muslim friend, who, when she was single, used the name "Bibi" as her surname in exactly the same way. Her "real" surname, i.e. the way we use a surname, was Ali.

"Son of" would be "Bin"... as in Osama Bin Laden

Life is going to become far more complex than it was with just Smith or Jones.

Only for you, searching for more crap to troll the forums with

[said]

No it's not. For a start off it's a Muslim word, and only used by women. It can be used before or after their given name, so, to us, could easly be mistaken as a first name or a surname. It's not a name at all, just a term of respect. I have a Muslim friend, who, when she was single, used the name "Bibi" as her surname in exactly the same way. Her "real" surname, i.e. the way we use a surname, was Ali.

"Son of" would be "Bin"... as in Osama Bin Laden

Only for you, searching for more crap to troll the forums with

Actually not just me - I remember working at Smedley and they had listed thousands of Muslim titles as surnames when it was just a form of address. Never a stranger to controversy, I was derided (yet again) when I mentioned it.

By the way - I sincerely believe that I hold a record. In my working career I have had fourteen disciplinaries! Can you believe that?

[pedoja]

In my working career I have had fourteen disciplinaries! Can you believe that?

Are you at all surprised?





OK... so I have taken the 'bait'.....

[Ceam]

In my working career I have had fourteen disciplinaries! Can you believe that?

Yes.


Not something to be proud of IMHO.

[seivad]

Actually not just me - I remember working at Smedley and they had listed thousands of Muslim titles as surnames when it was just a form of address.

Not just you what? I was pointing out that you were wrong in stating that Begum is similar to "son of"

Never a stranger to controversy, I was derided (yet again) when I mentioned it.

Even negative attention is better than none.. yes?

By the way - I sincerely believe that I hold a record. In my working career I have had fourteen disciplinaries! Can you believe that?

No, I don't believe a word that you write.

[said]

Not just you what? I was pointing out that you were wrong in stating that Begum is similar to "son of"

Even negative attention is better than none.. yes?

No, I don't believe a word that you write.

If God was a physical being, I guess you would also doubt what He said. Can't say I blame you - I do not believe anyone myself until I have obvious proof of what they say or claim, part of life these days.

[said]

Yes.


Not something to be proud of IMHO.

Oh! It is. The whole system was abused repeatedly.

[said]

No it's not. For a start off it's a Muslim word, and only used by women. It can be used before or after their given name, so, to us, could easly be mistaken as a first name or a surname. It's not a name at all, just a term of respect. I have a Muslim friend, who, when she was single, used the name "Bibi" as her surname in exactly the same way. Her "real" surname, i.e. the way we use a surname, was Ali.

"Son of" would be "Bin"... as in Osama Bin Laden

Only for you, searching for more crap to troll the forums with

It would come as a surprise to you then to learn that I do not find topics on the Internet! I socialise a great deal with academics in my job, and the discussions we have are very interesting. The point about foreign names arose from having to contact a business in London and I had to seek out a particular persons name, which appeared as a surname, but was repeated in different departments - I just wondered if others had the same experience? If not already, then the chances are that they would have in the future. Hence - point of interest?

[Ceam]

I socialise a great deal with academics in my job,

I saw the queen once, It doesn't make me royalty.

They are probably using you as a case study.

[said]

I saw the queen once, It doesn't make me royalty.

They are probably using you as a case study.

Not unless you have the certificates to prove that you are Royalty.

[Toodles McGinty]

I saw the queen once, It doesn't make me royalty.

They are probably using you as a case study.

*tittering*

We should have a 'like' button.

[salus.populi]

There's a lot of Josephs and Joannes where I work. All known verbally as Jo or Joe.
It's equal opportunities and multiculturalism gone mad I tell you.

[said]

There's a lot of Josephs and Joannes where I work. All known verbally as Jo or Joe.
It's equal opportunities and multiculturalism gone mad I tell you.

The next thing will be that everyone is given an identity number and has to use that, I think.