21–30 of 210 posts
Westernized Chinese names seem to be missing. For example, in Hong Kong it's common to have both Chinese and Western first names. This leads to a complex rule: Using the Western name only: WESTERN-FIRST CHINESE-LAST Using the Chinese name only: CHINESE-LAST CHINESE-FIRST Using both: WESTERN-FIRST CHINESE-LAST CHINESE-FIRST (CHINESE-FIRST can be one or two characters). I think I got that right?
When I receive emails from @name I usually open my response with "Dear $name[0]" but I know better than to do that with Asian-sounding names. However, I never knew exactly what to do instead, so I've always chickened out and went with the full "Dear @name" in the same order that I was given the names. I hoped this would enlighten me as to the appropriate way to go, but I clearly overestimated the homogeneity of Asian…
It's often the case that people will sign off with a form of their name that they're happy to be addressed by. - Andrew
1. I mean family names here
Also, Balinese names[0] are a trip if you're not familiar with them, where people are named by birth order (up to 4 -- after that you stick "again" on the name).
A bit like programming: url.hostname, or hostname url.
What do you mean? A URL contains its hostname.
This would seem easily avoidable if people reverted back to using only last names [1] and an honorific, as was once common in the Western world. Mr. Smith, Ms. Jones, etc. 1. I mean family names here
In Indonesia we always use an honorific followed by a person's preferred name. Very simple!
This would seem easily avoidable if people reverted back to using only last names [1] and an honorific, as was once common in the Western world. Mr. Smith, Ms. Jones, etc. 1. I mean family names here
By last name, you mean family name, right? In Indonesia we always use an honorific followed by a person's preferred name. Very simple!
I have a Indonesian Chinese friend who has strange name. She said her parents made up her name preventing the massacre against Chinese.
Wow! That was a heavy burden for those parents. Imagine knowing that a misstep in the naming of your child would cause the death of many people.