John, Jennifer, Cindy, Jose, Tiffany, Ariana. Most people can pronounce those names correctly, yet they can never pronounce mine. My name is Dallanara, and it’s pronounced like Dye-yan-ara and for most people, my name can be difficult to pronounce properly.
Names are some of the most personal things about a person, and if someone can’t take the time to learn how to pronounce my name or other peoples’ names, it’s disrespectful to them.
I’ve had experiences where the teacher says my name wrong, and they won’t ask how to pronounce it right. But I’ve also had teachers ask me and I’ll repeat my name and they say it wrong and out of embarrassment I won’t correct them.
Even though I have corrected them a few times before, I get exhausted from correcting them so many times. Recently, however, I tried to stand up for my name, but it backfired.
It took eight tries of going back and forth between me and another person pronouncing my name and eventually I gave up, because they kept mispronouncing it.
Sometimes I devalue my name and I tell myself at least they are somewhat right even though my name is a part of my identity. When I’m out in public and I’m ordering food or something and they ask for a name for the meal, I want to say a different name because it will be easier for the cashier.
If you go by a different name than your legal name, correct people. You owe it to yourself to be called your name, and when someone does have a difficult name, don’t hesitate to ask them how to pronounce it. The person might be glad to help you pronounce their name properly.
Names can have such a huge part in someone’s identity and ignoring it or not trying to pronounce it correctly because it’s “too hard” is like denying them their identity.
At the end of the day our names are our names, and people need to learn how to take the time to properly pronounce them, even though it may be difficult for them. We are worthy of that respect. Names do matter.