What's in a name?
01/12/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
Look at that title again. What's in a name? For a writer, it is a reflection of the character's persona that is being created. A hook to catch the reader's imagination. Often as not, the fewer syllables, the stronger the name. Some names look weaker than others. It also shouldn't be difficult to distinguish between the sexes. About the only odd disregard is giving a character a surname that can be mistaken for a forename. Then again, there is also a need in adult fiction to address adult male characters by their surnames and adult female characters by their forenames. You only go for forenames for both sexes if you're going to make them cosy for the readers.
In stories, character names are often chosen to be common so that no one would think they are named after or given the personality of anyone the author might know. With our own genres of Science Fiction, fantasy and horror, there is also the liberty of spelling names slightly different to either appear futuristic or covey some other trait.
Then there are taboo names. Ones which you would be cautious to use. In Christian societies, we would feel calling a son 'Jesus' as not so much sacrilegious but odd. In Hispanic countries such as Spain or Portugal, 'Jesus' is as common as Joshua, which is the name source anyway. It should also be pointed out that 'Jesus' is not pronounced the same way we say it. In the UK, we would pronounce it as 'Gee-Sus'. In Hispanic, it would be 'Shee-sus'. Written down in a story, unless your dialogue is phonetic, any reader will pronounce it in their national way. If you want a comparison of this, watch the opening of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti western 'A Fistful Of Dollars' and compare it to the novelisation and see which version of 'Jesus' you use. Contradictorily, nothing is said about using the term in swearing. An acceptance which is probably requiring a blessing than a curse.
Probably the biggest taboo name now is to call a character 'Mohammed' in case it upsets the Islamic community. I mean, if your character is an out-and-out villain, are you being disrespectful to the Islamic prophet? In real life, this might not be a problem. After all, parents wouldn't know how their offspring will turn out later in life. Indeed, people who change to the Islamic faith often choose to call themselves 'Mohammed' in honour of their faith. The best example of this is Mohammed Ali formerly Cassius Clay.
The real question here is how far can that be allowed to go? Suppose you have an alien character who adopts the Islamic faith and took on the name 'Mohammed' as a mark of respect to the religion. Would this be sacrilegious? Would the author of such a story have a fatwa or expect to be flogged if ever he or she stepped into an Islamic territory? Would any author based on what happened in Denmark last year or currently with teacher Gillian Gibbons in the Sudan really want to risk it?
If you were in Islamic territory and saw many men with the name 'Mohammed', the logic would be that the name was in as much common use as, say, the name 'John' in western society. There might be an association with the Islamic prophet but there is no indication that it is one of a kind like we have with 'Jesus', which as I've pointed out doesn't happen outside of Hispanic society. If a name is so sacred that it can be misread in a society then the name should be kept out of the reach of all people so there is no confusion as to its importance.
Names at the end of the day, are the labels for individuals. They are important for identifying one person from another. We often give them to pets and toys as well as imbibe them with our imagination and personality, giving them their own semblance of life. Short of giving them names that could be construed as a racial slur, although that can change with the passage of time or a re-labelling as such, the first importance is as a name. If it gives strength of character then I doubt if it would face being begrudged.
Often as not, we live within the constraints of the society that uses the names. As Hispanic forename is likely to be 'Jesus' and totally unlikely in the rest of the western world. The name 'Mohammed' is common amongst the Islamic faith but restricted to people lest it is thought to slur their prophet. As it appears some members of the Islamic faith are using it as any excuse to hit out at anyone who doesn't appear to give the name respect. The real problem is where do they draw the line from the name being just a name to a slur?
Had the Teddy Bear formerly addressed as Mohammed been dressed in the regalia of the prophet then yes, I can see there might be a problem. However, considering that even the Islamic faith have no image of their prophet that would be a difficult. As the Christian faith has no restriction on showing what Christ or even what God might look like, even if they are both given a more Caucasian appearance, there is obviously a different rulebook in operation. If one of the toy companies released a Teddy Bear dressed in robes and called it 'Jesus', the reaction might vary from wry humour to a little outrage over misplaced taste. I doubt if it would have western religions up in arms to flog or murder the creators. It might also be accepted that the image is more likely a homage and that an icon can appear elsewhere without being a slur to the original. For the record, I doubt if this scenario would ever happen or certainly not without some consultation with the church and a hefty donation to them or charity.
This world is not perfect and it would be impossible to walk through it without stepping on someone's toes in regard to what is or isn't acceptable taste. Islamic faith is tough enough on its own people let alone on infidels that are welcomed into their countries, already under particular restrictions of no alcohol and type of clothes worn. If there can't be a level of acceptable simple apology then it brings into question how can anyone respect any faith which has such a limited tolerance to those who are not made aware of any innocent transgression?
Names are not ideals. They are names. Labels of identification but not necessarily to a particular person, Respect can only go so far but unless boundaries are properly set then anyone can be a victim of saying the wrong thing. If a people can not accept tolerance or better clarification then we could all be victims. After all, what's in a name but a label?
GF Willmetts
(c) December 2007 all rights reserved, and any disrespect is in the eye of the beholder, not by the writer who is just an observer. |
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