Features
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 08:07
Written by Helen Elfer

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Ellen Feberwee and Valerie Blanco have uncovered some interesting stories behind those 'original' English names…

Tell us about your book In China, My Name Is...
We hope it accurately shows some of the cultural changes taking place in China, and the differences between Chinese people and Chinese hopes and dreams. We envisioned creating something pure. We tried to give readers the locals’ story instead of a foreigner’s point of view. The book contains interviews with Chinese and their explanations for choosing an English name. Looking at the developments from the perspective of the Chinese people gives a deeper meaning since the Chinese culture has complexities which are difficult for a foreigner to capture and understand.

 

Where did you find your subjects?
This book was created in Shanghai. The city is a melting pot, attracting people from all over China. This gave us the chance to provide a broad perspective on the subject. We spoke with Chinese people from different provinces and social layers: street workers, visitors to The Shanghai Millionaire Fair, monks and so on. We had the most wonderful conversations and the opportunity to talk to a lot of people.

 

Did you notice any trends among different groups of people?
The choice of an English name, for the Chinese, is often based upon what others like or think will fit somebody's character. Collectiveness is still how the Chinese society is built up. People want to be individuals and express themselves but within their social group they want to be respected. The largest group adopting English names is the younger generation in big cities. They are more modern then previous generations and are used to influences from the Western world. We learned that a difference between the  Chinese who do or don’t have an English name is their background.

Farmers in the countryside, for example, don't have English names. When they come to the city to find work, they are not seen as part of the local society. Therefore they don’t really integrate into modern life.

What are your Chinese names and why?
Ellen Feberwee: My Chinese name is Fan Ailun. My Chinese teacher in the Netherlands made it up for me. Fan stands for my last name. Ai stands for love, and Lun for human relationships. Ailun sounds a bit similar to my Dutch name. I didn't use it often because Chinese were able to pronounce my Dutch name.

Valerie Blanco: My Chinese name is Bai Lili and means white lily. Bai stands for my last name Blanco, which means white. Lili is a typical Chinese name. My father used to call me this. I created this name by myself. However, I checked it with some Chinese friends to make sure it doesn’t have a strange meaning.

Can you tell us about the etiquette of using people’s English names?
We noticed that English names are more informal than Chinese names. English names can be used for different occasions. Sometimes it can be used only by friends or during work at an international office. However we also spoke with people who were called their English name by their parents! Everything is possible. B6, for example, is called this by his father.

Who was your favourite subject?

We like Ben the best... We loved Rubberpixy (pictured). It’s a unique name and he really thought about his reasons for taking it on. He chose to use this new identity that totally fits his character and work as a graphic designer in Shanghai.

This is what he told us: “Rubberpixy, because I am like a rubber band. A rubber band is laid back and normal but it can be extremely tense when you pull it. If you release the band it will bounce in every direction. I think I can make something big. I think rubber band doesn't sound nice as a name. Therefore I chose Rubberpixy. Pixy comes from pixels.

Besides, people will easy recognize me when I make graphic work. My Chinese name means bright and open. All my friends call me Rubberpixy. My parents don’t call me that; they call me by my Chinese nickname.”

 

In China, My Name Is? can be purchased at Garden Books and the Foreign Bookstore on Fuzhou lu. To win a signed book check the website: www.chinese-identity.com.

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