In Spanish class, we get Spanish names and can choose what we’d like to be called from a list. I’m Francisca (or Paca) because it’s similar to Francesca, my online name.

  • SorteKanin@feddit.dk
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    1 day ago

    Is this some american thing? I’ve never heard of anyone having a different name for a language class, that just seems odd to me. Your name is your name, doesn’t matter what language you’re speaking.

    • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 hours ago

      It’s definitely a thing in American schools, but i think it’s common in some other countries as well.

      When learning another language, the options are to: 1) use your real name with the real pronunciation, 2) real name with different pronunciation, 3) equivalent of name in other language (e.g., John to Juan), 4) just pick a name you like in the other language.

      1 doesnt flow well in speech, 2 also feels unnatural, and sometimes isnt possible, and 3 doesnt always exist. Kids also generally like the opportunity to pick a name that they think is cool. There’s no expectation that you would use that name in a real life discussion with someone in that language.

      Looks like it’s common in China as well. https://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2535