| The discussion is getting more and more fun.
I guess it's sth about 'high language' and 'low language'. I don't know the case in other places so I will use HK as an example. HK had been British colony for 99 years. English is definitely the 'high language' for education and business purposes. Cantonese becomes the 'low language' which are used for daily life. Well at first, maybe people thought an English name meant prestige. But I am sure nowadays, it's just for the sake of convenience. Funny enough, my primary and secondary school classmates call my Chinese name while my university friends and colleagues call my English name. Guess it's an interesting topic huh! For those knowledge thirsty, you may go and search for 'bilingualism', 'code-switching', 'langua franca' on the net. P.S. Nirmalya is a HE, not a SHE! :P |
Why I Don't Have an English Name