Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore

Abstract The evolution of personal names in western Europe can be said to be characterized by the phenomenon of standardization (Wilson 1998). This article seeks to examine whether this general rubric is of use in the context of hybridized names, specifically the names of the ethnic Chinese in Singa...

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Main Author: Peter KW Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 2006-12-01
Series:Names
Online Access:http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1770
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author Peter KW Tan
author_facet Peter KW Tan
author_sort Peter KW Tan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The evolution of personal names in western Europe can be said to be characterized by the phenomenon of standardization (Wilson 1998). This article seeks to examine whether this general rubric is of use in the context of hybridized names, specifically the names of the ethnic Chinese in Singapore. I examine names obtained from a school year book in Singapore against the backdrop of the traditional pattern as documented by Jones (1997). Notable changes include the increased use of English-based given names and the way Chinese given names are represented: the tendency is towards having them based on Mandarin Chinese as opposed to other varieties of Chinese, and of having them spelt in a standard way of sorts. This is in line with the government's preferences and supports the standardization thesis. There is, however, strong resistance to the standardization of Chinese surnames.
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spelling doaj.art-9ac6d3ccf3064c4082a2b24fad462cdb2022-12-22T00:53:21ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghNames0027-77381756-22792006-12-0154410.1179/nam.2006.54.4.291Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in SingaporePeter KW TanAbstract The evolution of personal names in western Europe can be said to be characterized by the phenomenon of standardization (Wilson 1998). This article seeks to examine whether this general rubric is of use in the context of hybridized names, specifically the names of the ethnic Chinese in Singapore. I examine names obtained from a school year book in Singapore against the backdrop of the traditional pattern as documented by Jones (1997). Notable changes include the increased use of English-based given names and the way Chinese given names are represented: the tendency is towards having them based on Mandarin Chinese as opposed to other varieties of Chinese, and of having them spelt in a standard way of sorts. This is in line with the government's preferences and supports the standardization thesis. There is, however, strong resistance to the standardization of Chinese surnames. http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1770
spellingShingle Peter KW Tan
Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore
Names
title Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore
title_full Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore
title_fullStr Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore
title_full_unstemmed Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore
title_short Towards a Standardization Of Personal Names: The Case of the Ethnic Chinese in Singapore
title_sort towards a standardization of personal names the case of the ethnic chinese in singapore
url http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1770
work_keys_str_mv AT peterkwtan towardsastandardizationofpersonalnamesthecaseoftheethnicchineseinsingapore