How to insult an American and they don't even notice
Oct 12, 2018 07:33:20 #
I understand that Americans don't always 'get' English humour, so thought I would try a small experiment.
The following text was submitted to The Attic with the title 'Naming Conventions'
Anyone who does 'get' it, please reply.
One thing I wonder about (amongst others) is where the trend for naming children with "strange" names, like Drew or River, came from.
I'm not talking about "English" names like Donald (its actually Celtic in origin). I understand there's a duck called that.
On both sides of the Atlantic there are "celebrities" who choose some very strange names for their children, but I don't understand where their choices come from either.
I know that back in the 1800's, there were a lot of biblical names used, but that doesn't seem to have continued into the twentieth or twenty first century.
Can anyone suggest just where this affection to strange names comes from?
The following text was submitted to The Attic with the title 'Naming Conventions'
Anyone who does 'get' it, please reply.
One thing I wonder about (amongst others) is where the trend for naming children with "strange" names, like Drew or River, came from.
I'm not talking about "English" names like Donald (its actually Celtic in origin). I understand there's a duck called that.
On both sides of the Atlantic there are "celebrities" who choose some very strange names for their children, but I don't understand where their choices come from either.
I know that back in the 1800's, there were a lot of biblical names used, but that doesn't seem to have continued into the twentieth or twenty first century.
Can anyone suggest just where this affection to strange names comes from?
Oct 12, 2018 07:44:30 #
norman1312 wrote:
I understand that Americans don't always 'get' Eng... (show quote)
From strange people?
Oct 12, 2018 07:46:33 #
Oct 12, 2018 08:52:58 #
If we're supposed to be insulted, then you are absolutely right. I must be too stupid to see the offense. But then, lucky me! A person who can't be insulted must be a happy person.
As to the strange names, in America, it started with Black People who did not want their children to be part of the "White culture," so they began using African names. Pretty soon it morphed into just making up names out of thin air. A few years ago I was buying groceries from a young Black grocery clerk who had a name tag that said 'Wisteven." I asked him about his unusual name which looked like a strange version of my name. He responded that he was a twin. His brother was born first and they named him "Steven." He was born second, so they deduced the descriptor "With Steven."
As for Biblical names, I'm not sure what you are talking about, they are still plentiful. Maybe they are so common that you forgot they came from the Bible? James, Stephen, Christopher, Peter, Thomas (all those are my father, me and my brothers), Joseph, Daniel, David, Aaron, Andrew, Adam, Benjamin, Isaac, Jacob, Matthew, Philip, Simon, Timothy, Deborah, Diane, Elizabeth, Claudia, Joanna, Judith, Lois, Martha, Rachel, Rebecca, Ruth, Sarah, Peter, Paul, and Mary. I know guys named Immanuel, Gabriel, Ezekiel, Abraham, and Noah. Those are just a few.
As to the strange names, in America, it started with Black People who did not want their children to be part of the "White culture," so they began using African names. Pretty soon it morphed into just making up names out of thin air. A few years ago I was buying groceries from a young Black grocery clerk who had a name tag that said 'Wisteven." I asked him about his unusual name which looked like a strange version of my name. He responded that he was a twin. His brother was born first and they named him "Steven." He was born second, so they deduced the descriptor "With Steven."
As for Biblical names, I'm not sure what you are talking about, they are still plentiful. Maybe they are so common that you forgot they came from the Bible? James, Stephen, Christopher, Peter, Thomas (all those are my father, me and my brothers), Joseph, Daniel, David, Aaron, Andrew, Adam, Benjamin, Isaac, Jacob, Matthew, Philip, Simon, Timothy, Deborah, Diane, Elizabeth, Claudia, Joanna, Judith, Lois, Martha, Rachel, Rebecca, Ruth, Sarah, Peter, Paul, and Mary. I know guys named Immanuel, Gabriel, Ezekiel, Abraham, and Noah. Those are just a few.
Oct 12, 2018 09:01:24 #
Oct 12, 2018 09:46:59 #
Oct 12, 2018 09:52:19 #
norman1312 wrote:
I understand that Americans don't always 'get' Eng... (show quote)
What we consider a "strange" name is most likely , IMHO, from other ethnicities.
They aren't really strange, just strange to us.
However, there are some exceptions.
Oct 12, 2018 12:23:08 #
mwalsh wrote:
When you have to explain your humor...
As I said, you haven't yet picked up on the whole point of the post.
Next post will have a clue.
Oct 12, 2018 14:31:15 #
Strange names are named after a city. E.g. New York, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Miami Indianapolis, San Francisco or Norman. Etc.
Oct 12, 2018 16:09:30 #
norman1312 wrote:
I understand that Americans don't always 'get' Eng... (show quote)
Well I don't get the humor at the moment because I am moving furniture and cleaning, so nothing seems funny now. (taking a break for lunch)
But the "modern" fad for strange names has a long history - Go back to the 17th Century in Great Britain and take a look at some of the names various groups used - like the Puritans https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/09/puritan-names-lists-of-bizarre-religious-nomenclature-used-by-puritans.html
Oct 12, 2018 17:18:45 #
I think this topic is really about 'monarch envy'. The British royals are no longer the most ridiculous family in town.
Oct 12, 2018 17:56:45 #
norman1312 wrote:
I understand that Americans don't always 'get' Eng... (show quote)
Not sure exactly what you are getting at. Having done a wee bit of genealogy research in my own family I found line of Samuels that was 6 or 7 generations deep. Someone else was named Pardon but I put that in the "Hope, Faith, Charity" category. Some were clearly named for someone famous during that period. FWIW my kids have basic christian names. No "scout" or "Moon Unit" here.
Oct 12, 2018 18:00:09 #
NeilL
Loc: British-born Canadian
Steven Seward wrote:
If we're supposed to be insulted, then you are abs... (show quote)
I always thought people with strange names are either royalty, or dogs. Prince, Princess, Rex, Duke...
Oct 12, 2018 18:00:54 #
hondo812 wrote:
Not sure exactly what you are getting at. Having done a wee bit of genealogy research in my own family I found line of Samuels that was 6 or 7 generations deep. Someone else was named Pardon but I put that in the "Hope, Faith, Charity" category. Some were clearly named for someone famous during that period. FWIW my kids have basic christian names. No "scout" or "Moon Unit" here.
'Pardon', 'Lock Her Up' and 'MAGA' are current front runners with the evangelical crowd.
Mama calls me Texcaster but my real name is Mr. Earl
Oct 12, 2018 18:02:38 #
NeilL
Loc: British-born Canadian
norman1312 wrote:
As I said, you haven't yet picked up on the whole point of the post.
Next post will have a clue.
Next post will have a clue.
Don't tell me: "Elementary, my dear Watson..."
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