There is no shame if you don't know how to pronounce "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie" or "Salman Rushdie," however, when encountering a person whose name is new to you (whether traveling or just in your everyday life)...you have to TRY. Ask how the name is pronounced and don't get offended if you're corrected (and even encourage them to correct you, as well). I understand that not everyone is good with remembering names, but the key here is to not alienate someone--and thus "Other" them--by not putting in effort, by singling them out for their name, by making fun of their name (sometimes even small comments can come off as implicit teasing or a microaggression). Having said that, I also get that sometimes a person's name might have a sound that is very difficult to produce (like the Spanish rolling "r"). Again, this comes back to effort and a desire to learn--you might not ever get the sounds just right, but it's important to at least put in a concerted effort (AND to not say someone's name with a tone that is tinged with "wow, this is exotic). Don't forget spelling, either!
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