When I was a child, it always confused me when people asked me me for my "good name," I never knew what to tell these well-meaning adults. I remember wondering whether I had a "bad name" which would be used when I'd been especially naughty. I also wondered whether it was odd that I did not have a "good name," just a regular name.
How is a good name different from any other name? Ah, that is an excellent question. You see, "good name" comes from the Hindi phrase shubh naam. It is, surprise surprise, a literal translation. Good names are usually very formal, long and dignified - not really suitable for young children. The result? Said young child, saddled with a long, formal name is often referred to by a shorter name which is usually unrelated to his "good name." To differentiate, the shorter name is called a "pet name."
Pet names were another source of confusion for me as a young child. First, because a pet name sounds very much like the type of names you call your little furry friends and second because pet names and good names are always so different. In general, people are known by their pet names at home and to friends of the family, but are known by their good names at school and professionally. When the two groups of people meet, chaos can ensue since none of the people in either camp know the person by the other name.
For instance, a cousin, who was at that time a colonel in the Indian army, called my house and identified himself by his rank and his good name. My grandmother, convinced she had never heard of the man, hung up on him to his great consternation. The situation was eventually sorted out when my cousin called and gave us his pet name. To this day, my grandmother vehemently defends herself saying she could not have been expected to know the gentleman's real name.
Despite the fact that pet names are so commonly used, it is widely acknowledged that pet names do not suffice as people's real names. So, when one introduces oneself (especially in North India) another frequently asked, name-related question is, "Is that you real name?" This does not mean they are accusing your name of being a fake Gucci in the back of a truck on the wrong side of town. They are simply trying to find out if the name you have given them is the one they will find on your college degree and your horoscope (more on this in another post).
Clearly, names - good, real or pet are a big deal in Hinglish, and are the topic of many questions. To answer these seemingly simple questions, non-Hinglish speakers should remember the following: Your good name is your given name, and you will most definitely be asked for it at the beginning of any conversation with a new person. The shorter it is, the more likely it is that people will follow that question up with, "Is that your real name?"
When you confirm that your name is both good and real, the next question may be, "What is your pet name?" Be very careful what you divulge at this point. If you tell Hinglish speakers your nickname, they will, in a misguided attempt to demonstrate their fondness for you, allow your real, good name to fade into oblivion altogether too quickly.
How is a good name different from any other name? Ah, that is an excellent question. You see, "good name" comes from the Hindi phrase shubh naam. It is, surprise surprise, a literal translation. Good names are usually very formal, long and dignified - not really suitable for young children. The result? Said young child, saddled with a long, formal name is often referred to by a shorter name which is usually unrelated to his "good name." To differentiate, the shorter name is called a "pet name."
Pet names were another source of confusion for me as a young child. First, because a pet name sounds very much like the type of names you call your little furry friends and second because pet names and good names are always so different. In general, people are known by their pet names at home and to friends of the family, but are known by their good names at school and professionally. When the two groups of people meet, chaos can ensue since none of the people in either camp know the person by the other name.
For instance, a cousin, who was at that time a colonel in the Indian army, called my house and identified himself by his rank and his good name. My grandmother, convinced she had never heard of the man, hung up on him to his great consternation. The situation was eventually sorted out when my cousin called and gave us his pet name. To this day, my grandmother vehemently defends herself saying she could not have been expected to know the gentleman's real name.
Despite the fact that pet names are so commonly used, it is widely acknowledged that pet names do not suffice as people's real names. So, when one introduces oneself (especially in North India) another frequently asked, name-related question is, "Is that you real name?" This does not mean they are accusing your name of being a fake Gucci in the back of a truck on the wrong side of town. They are simply trying to find out if the name you have given them is the one they will find on your college degree and your horoscope (more on this in another post).
Clearly, names - good, real or pet are a big deal in Hinglish, and are the topic of many questions. To answer these seemingly simple questions, non-Hinglish speakers should remember the following: Your good name is your given name, and you will most definitely be asked for it at the beginning of any conversation with a new person. The shorter it is, the more likely it is that people will follow that question up with, "Is that your real name?"
When you confirm that your name is both good and real, the next question may be, "What is your pet name?" Be very careful what you divulge at this point. If you tell Hinglish speakers your nickname, they will, in a misguided attempt to demonstrate their fondness for you, allow your real, good name to fade into oblivion altogether too quickly.
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