{"id":1797,"date":"2010-12-21T00:01:17","date_gmt":"2010-12-21T00:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dvan.org\/?p=1797"},"modified":"2018-10-14T22:03:46","modified_gmt":"2018-10-15T05:03:46","slug":"whats-in-a-name-on-food-names-full-names-and-vietnamese-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dvan.org\/2010\/12\/whats-in-a-name-on-food-names-full-names-and-vietnamese-names\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s in a name? On food names, full names & Vietnamese names"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you enjoy reading diaCRITICS? Then please\u00a0consider subscribing<\/a>!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

A while back I was listening to NPR and a brief story came on about using aliases at Starbucks (or any other food\/coffee joint that asks for your name). After hearing the story<\/a>,<\/span> it occurred to me that it’s high time to post a piece about Vietnamese names and the desire to, nay the sheer necessity, of using aliases for some of us. My name is Thuy and its pronunciation does not sound like its spelling so I’ve taken some shortcuts by adopting the food-name, Tina. Not particularly original. Not meant to be funny. But it does save me some time in getting my soy latte order through.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hung Liu, "Resident Alien," oil on canvas, 2008. Used totally without permission. Look at the name on the ID card.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In my family, most of my 8 siblings have adopted different names from the ones given them by our father. But my younger sister and I doggedly clung to our Vietnamese names despite the family pressure to choose new ones for our post-citizenship life in the U.S. Lucky for my younger sister, whose full name is Kim Xuyen, Kim can seamlessly become her public moniker. My full name, Thanh Thuy would hardly serve me as well. In fact, these two names are joined together on my drivers license and other legal documents, so that the three h’s all in one name\u00a0bewilder folks who have to check my I.D. I sometimes just feel bad for the poor schmuck who has to try to say my name out loud.<\/p>\n

For other Vietnamese Americans who have remained loyal to their Vietnamese names, I have heard that taking on an alias can lead to some fun. Just picture a Vietnamese gal giving the barista “Guadelupe” for her name. But, what if sometimes it’s a manuever you must take to avoid derision or disbelief? What if your name is Bich Chi Ho? Or Dung Do (sorry, anh Dung, I had to put it in!)…I am certain readers can think of\u00a0more\u00a0Vietnamese names that just do not sound pleasant when westernized. Even an easy-to-say name\u00a0like my\u00a0older sister’s, Hong,\u00a0loses its poetry\u00a0when misspoken. So I can understand why she ultimately decided Kelly would be an ideal permanent fix; meanwhile those who know her and can say her Vietnamese name with its poetic cadence become\u00a0part of her inner-circle, her private Vietnamese world. The decision\u00a0is \u00a0personal, it can be political, it can also just make plain practical sense. You can change your name legally or you can just take a food-name every so often. You can continue giving your children Vietnamese names or give those up completely for the trendiest celebrity-inspired names like Jaden or Shiloh.<\/p>\n

When I filed for U.S. citizenship and finally reached the last stage where I had to give up my “Alien Registration” card and swear my allegiance to America, I\u00a0decided for myself (and without judgement towards those who\u00a0choose to\u00a0take on an American name)\u00a0that\u00a0Thanh\u00a0Thuy is the\u00a0only name I can live with–unless\u00a0of course I am in a rush to get that soy latte.<\/p>\n

~tvd<\/p>\n

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—<\/p>\n

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Do you enjoy reading diaCRITICS? Then please\u00a0consider subscribing! A while back I was listening to NPR and a brief story came on about using aliases at Starbucks (or any other food\/coffee joint that asks for your name). After hearing the story, it occurred to me that it’s high time to post a piece about Vietnamese […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[]},"categories":[29],"tags":[1609],"yoast_head":"\nWhat's in a name? 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