Meaning And Influence: Why Are Names Important
Names can have a strong impact on how others perceive us. First impressions are made by the appearance of others. Second impressions are made by people about other people based on their names. Whenever two strangers are introduced, they begin by introducing themselves. Names are a way to identify us and help distinguish people. It is important to have a diverse audience, especially when you are dealing with informal audiences. It is the culture that gives words meaning and influences names adopted by parents. This brings up the question: Does popular culture influence the names that we choose or inherit for our children? The names we choose can reflect our cultural background and influence the status we hold in a society.
In the article, Experience History: Integrating cultural artifacts in a Study of the Dust Bowl (Wilson 4), it is stated, “Cultural objects do indeed provide information about history, but they also have unique strengths and flaws because they were made by humans under specific circumstances and at a certain place and period.” The purpose of these artifacts is to help people identify each other so they don’t become confused. Since centuries, they have been used. In the modern world, they are used as a way to identify individuals and are commonly accepted. It is a result of different experiences and backgrounds. People associate it with certain memories, and this influences how society interprets the concept. This can be a reason for people to behave in certain ways. In most cultures, it is a tradition to keep the name your parents gave you. We tend to stick by it because we’ve been using it all our life. It was once something that could not be seen or touched, but it could be used to contact someone. It has now become so materialized that it must be printed on government documents to be considered official.
Names can be derived from objects, such as companies, museums, elite schools and so on. Names may also be derived by objects, like companies, museums or elite schools. The article Celebrity Names/Brand Names Nicole Kidman Chanel No. According to 5andCommodification, “analyzing the names of celebrities, stars, and brands helps to shed lights on the nexus that exists between personal identity, consumer products, and celebrity” (Nittins). The cultural and linguistic meanings of our names are significant. The names of their children are often chosen by people who are familiar with the culture. This is because companies will choose names if they increase their sales. Many names are repeated across cultures, particularly if they’re well known. The last name of the father is given to children who are born to certain families. This tradition is followed around the globe. In a household, the father is the representative of the unit. It is because when a married woman inherits a man’s name, and their children inherit it as well, that when a couple has children, they also carry the name of their father. This represents the role of the husband/father of the home. He is in a leadership position, meaning he is more responsible for his family.
In an article entitled Keep Your Attention on the Ball, Investigating Artifacts as Used in Physical Education (Ohman 2), it is stated, “Similarly, Recent Educational Research has shown that meaning of a artifact can be constructed in different ways by different pupils with different practices.” What may be understood in one culture differently by another, is not always the case. Cultures provide stability and order in the global community. They promote diversity. The world has different meanings to words and names. Languages inspire names. The pronunciation of foreign names will be similar to that of the native language in the culture. In recent years, names that are popular in pop culture like Grace, Mercy, and Geraldine have become more acceptable across cultures. The cultural barrier to naming our children may be gradually breaking down. Grace and Mercy both have a Christian connection. Many cultures are promoting and accepting Christianity. Therefore, adopting names from the Bible may not be a problem. The naming process has become more lax.
The culture that we live in influences the names we give our children. Due to the evolution of cultures, names change constantly. People from all around the globe are meeting and exchanging names with other cultures. In this way, people can form a partnership with others from different cultures and pursue a shared goal. Religion can be a culture which slowly permeates all aspects of culture. Original cultural values can be easily compromised in the pursuit of something greater and higher than us. Then, it would seem appropriate to adopt a religious name that has now become a cultural part. Resistance would be minimal because no one is allowed to ask questions about religion. There is a good chance that other members of the religion will do the exact same thing and pass the name on to the next generation.
