An Olive of Chinese or Korean extraction
Today I’ve been talking to a woman called Shirley, an enthusiastic IT professional sent by our auditors. I’ve noticed that young women of East Asian descent often have English names which are shockingly out of fashion. In the almost three years I’ve been in Vancouver, I’ve worked with a Mabel, a Florence, a Pearl, a Vera - actually two Veras - and an Olive, all of Chinese or Korean extraction, and none above 30. No Gertrude or Mildred as yet, but I’m working on it.
I don’t know why the Chinese do this; perhaps they’re transliterating their foreign names or possibly it’s just that they are crazy foreigners, but I like it. For a while I wanted to name my daughter (even though she’s not Chinese) Dora, until someone informed me of the ghastly multimedia fictional character Dora the Explorer.
But getting back to Shirley, the thing which struck me about her was that her top two incisors appear to be filed to vampirical points. When she smiles, which is often, you see her fangs flashing wildly, like daggers unsheathed in a murky souk.
This entry was posted on Monday, December 18th, 2006 at 4:46 PM and filed under New stuff. Trackbacks are closed.
But those old names are making a come-back. They are cool again. The Splogsprog has a friend called Florence and another called Millie. Gertrude and Pearl were serious contenders for the Splogsprog herself. Shirley, not so much. Did you know that the reason there are swathes of Western women in their sixties called Shirley was because their mothers all named them after Shirley Temple?
Posted on 19-Dec-06 at 1:53 am | PermalinkI’ve always been a tad puzzled by the fact that a rather lovely Italian woman I know is called Barbara. Just doesn’t sound right. Her Greek girlfriend is called Fani. Yes, that is how you pronounce it. Chefboy and Beau call them ‘Baps and Flaps’ - which they now know - and how we laughed as Chefboy stutteringly tried to explain the meaning of those words to them in a crowded bar on a birthday lunchtime.
Posted on 19-Dec-06 at 2:16 am | PermalinkI know a lovely Italian woman called Barbara as well, Pog.
I went to school with a lot of girls from Hong Kong, many of whom had strange names too, including Bonnie (actually quite pretty but outdated), Billie-Jean (shortened to B-J - eeps) and Jeannie.
Posted on 19-Dec-06 at 4:09 am | PermalinkNorah: They might be making a comeback now, but 20-30 years ago when these ladies were born? Millie is nice enough on the right girl, by Gertrude, well. I’m afraid I can’t see the attraction. It sounds like an eructation.
pog: Baps ‘n’ Flaps - brilliant. They should open a sandwich shop for gentlemen.
Katja: Hong Kong Bonnies, there are hundreds of them here. No B-J’s though. All the B-J’s probably changed their name to Bonnie.
Posted on 19-Dec-06 at 9:21 am | PermalinkAn excellent observation. I myself encountered an Ethel Chin not too long ago, and I should like to add that she was very business-like; dressed almost a caricature of a high-powered business woman.
Posted on 19-Dec-06 at 9:44 am | PermalinkI had a brilliant comment about a Chinese guy I met called Herbert but my computer crashed before I could post it, so you’ll just have to imagine it
Posted on 19-Dec-06 at 1:46 pm | PermalinkI have a Diana to add to that list.
Posted on 20-Dec-06 at 6:51 am | PermalinkSimilarly, I have a friend who worked in a library, where a family who came from Africa 2 years ago used to come in with their 5 year old daughter - Princess Diana.
I think it’s a chinese old female name vampire consiracy. Do you think the queen vampire is called betty?
Posted on 22-Dec-06 at 4:32 am | PermalinkMerry Christmas to you !!!!!
Posted on 24-Dec-06 at 4:01 am | PermalinkAE (or should I say “AF”?): is “almost like a charicature” good or bad?
disgruntled: and you’ll just have to imagine my chagrin.
chintzy: well, at least she has one fewer namesakes now.
Amardeep: for some reason Chinese vampires seem impossible. I can’t conceive of them. Or can I?
negrito: hic!
Posted on 29-Dec-06 at 12:22 am | PermalinkI think they would prefer a sandwich shop for ladies, ace. I’ll mention it to them …
Posted on 05-Jan-07 at 6:02 am | Permalink