FIRST-PERSON STORY: WHAT’S IN A NAME?

First Story: I have a brother-in-law from Italy, whose name is Maurizio. In his first few years of being in the United States, he always used to introduce himself as Maurice, thinking that it was easier for other people to pronounce. Over time, my family became accustomed to calling him Maurice. However, a few more years passed, and my brother-in-law had second thoughts about his name. He really wanted to change Maurice back to his full Italian name, Maurizio. He wants people to respect his Italian heritage. Unfortunately, he is having no luck. Most of his friends and family have learned to call him Maurice and are too used to the habit. He feels frustrated but he has no idea what to do.

Second Story: Maurizio’s predicament really resonated with me. My first name is Marietta and I’ve never introduced myself as “Mary” or “Mari” because it just sounds so ordinary. I do not identify with the name “Mary” at all, because it’s not me. However, time and time again, people always try to shorten my name even if I’ve clearly introduced myself as “Marietta.” They might see it as trying to enter an informal level of conversation with me, but honestly, I like my full name and prefer the whole thing. I have a strong identification with my name—Marietta. I like the sound “Marietta,” and I like to feel unique, like a real individual. It’s really annoying when people whom I don’t really know try to shorten my name all of the time, because it feels like they are rejecting my uniqueness. I think this feeling of frustration could be a minor version of what my brother-in-law, Maurizio, has gone through. When people shorten my name to Mary, it feels as if they have erased my unique identity! It feels like they don’t really listen carefully and they really don't care about the first thing that matters to you the most—i.e., your true name.

INTERACTIVE PROBES
(Ask yourself and probe your classmates’ reactions)
(NOTE: See “Chapter 4 Class Handouts” for a printable form containing these questions.)

1. To what extent can you relate to Maurizio’s and Marietta’s stories?

2. Does your name has special meaning to you? What does it mean? Do you like or not like your name? Why?

3. Do you know the story and history behind your name—i.e., who named you, why did they name you this special way?

4. Do your teachers or friends have a hard time pronouncing your name? Do you have a middle name? What is it? If your name has some cultural significance, please share that with a classmate.

5. If you could change your name to anything else or if you could have a foreign name, what would that be? Why?

6. Do you have any advice for Maurizio and Marietta in terms of how to get people to call them by their real names?

FURTHER APPLICATION PROBES

Let’s apply some Chapter 4 concepts to these stories:

1. What identity would you say was more important to Maurizio as he attempted to return to the name Maurizio?
    a. Personal identity
    b. Social identity

2. Maurizio was _____________ in Italy and ____________ in the U.S.
    a. enculturated; acculturated
    b. acculturated; enculturated

Now let’s apply the staircase model of intercultural communication flexibility from Chapter 1 (pages 19-21) to these stories.

4. Read the reactions to Maurizio’s request to be called by his original name. What stage of the staircase model would you say these people are in?
    a. Unconscious incompetence
    b. Unconscious competence
    c. Conscious incompetence
    d. Conscious competence

5. Read the reactions to Marietta’s request to be called by her full name. What stage of the staircase model would you say these people are in?
    a. Unconscious incompetence
    b. Unconscious competence
    c. Conscious incompetence
    d. Conscious competence