... thoughts : Chinese Surnames are not Lastnames - What, How and Why?

Chinese Surnames are not Lastnames
- What, How and Why?

They really don't know what to do with names that have surnames in front, do they? I watch with amusement the way surnames are inconsistently listed/reported. Sometimes a Chinese name like Singapore's tabletennis player is listed as Zhang Xueling, and sometimes as Xueling Zhang.

I must commend the recent years sports organisers for they way they no longer insist on throwing Chinese and Korean surnames to the back (lastname) but instead to respect the two cultures. However, admittedly this is creating a little confusion, especially for Chinese names from countries from Singapore and Malaysia where Chinese names have been "westernised" and the surnames thrown to the back. I don't see this in the China Chinese or in the Korean names probably due to the way the names were first submitted to the Olympic committee and hence the "correct" surname placing.

This is really a simple matter of better understanding between the differing cultures. I face this same problem whenever I have to deal with clients from Europe or North America. Despite constant reminders, they still put my surname at the back even on cheques and other such "official" documents, which creates problems for me when I try and cash them or use them in Singapore. This confusing state of affairs has resulted in us having "multiple" versions of our names which we are forced to switch between when dealing with different people and cultures. This is made worse with the use of English names. To use the same example above; if Zhang Xueling had an English name like Jill for instance, a simple Chinese name like Zhang Xue Ling (3 characters) suddenly also becomes Xue Ling Zhang or Jill Zhang Xue Ling or Jill Xue Ling Zhang or Jill Zhang X.L. or Jill X.L. Zhang. And mind you, I've seen all these variants used. To make matters worse, a new and disturbing trend is emerging in Singapore where some locals are starting to have Firstnames, Middlename and Lastnames, throwing centuries of tradition down the rubbish chute. This is exaggerbated by the use of Western First & Middlenames, something like Ester Michelle Chan for example. Why?

I was once greatly insulted when meeting an associate from Australia for the first time. In our introductions, I introduced myself in my Chinese name and he abruptly asked me if I had an English name or some other name that would be easier for him to call me by. I recalled the book "Roots" by Alex Haley and how his ancestor by the name of "Kunta Kinte", brought over to the Americas from Africa as "Black Slaves", repeatedly rejected an English name "Toby" that his Master insisted on calling him by, even to the point of having to bear constant beatings and punishments. Not the least amused, I retorted and asked in return if he had a Chinese name instead of his English one so that I could more easily call him by. He at least had the decency to look appropriately apologetic.

My old university in Canada which prides itself as a "Bridgeway to the Pacific Rim" and champions the concept of the "Global Citizen", rather ironically fails to grasp this simple concept. Decades after my graduation, I'm still struggling with the Alumni office and the University to get my name right. I grit my teeth at every Alumni function and at every meeting with visiting University dignatories.

The problem has deteriorated so badly here in Singapore that people without Western names like me, are sometimes portrayed as backward and made to feel ashamed to use our Chinese names in more formal settings. Apparently, our "backward" Chinese names are only good for the local wet market, hawker centres and in the home. They are not good enough in the international arena.

For long suffering multiple named people like me, it is our greatest hope that the world would just learn how to deal with a surname in front and not require us to move our names around just to suit them. Any Westerner would have balked and screamed bl**dy murder if they had to do that to their names. The problem is made worse by inconsistencies in our own policies. Even Singapore Government forms and websites sometimes require the filling in of Firstnames, Middlenames and Lastnames, probably due to the difficulty in modifying off-the-shelf computer software from the US. Non-Asian religions are also to be blamed because, not only do they preach their religious beliefs, they are also rather intolerant of Asian cultures and values in their practices. The Chinese/Korean name is an integral part of our culture just like a Western name is an integral part of the Western culture. It is indeed a testimony to the open-mindedness of Asian cultures in our abilities to adopt as well as understand different naming conventions in our day to day dealing with other cultures but surely, this is going too far.

Allow me to explain the significance of the Chinese/Korean name. The front surname reflects the importance the Chinese/Korean places on the family above self. The second name, eg. Xue in Zhang Xueling's name, is the generation name which places the person into the correct generation so that we will always know who our brothers/sisters/cousins are and more importantly, who our elders are. Finally comes our personal name, eg. Ling which is the person's "actual" name. Often you will find "Ah Ling" used as a term of endearment or as a term of familiarity between close friends and family. This is because, Ling is her "true" name self. A Chinese/Korean is never called by his/her generation name or surname unless in mock seriousness or in more official settings like in the office.

Unlike in Western cultures, our elders are never called by name. It is both insulting as well as disrespectful. There are numerous honorifics used, which loosely translated would be equivalent to the western Auntie, Uncle, Grandfather etc. However, I must admit, there is a prohibitively large number of honorifics to remember especially when there are two separate sets, one for the mother's side of the family, and another for the father's side of the family, and to make matters worse, dependent on whether the person in question is older or younger in family position to your parent. Luckily, for those who don't know the correct honorific, there is a quick fix solution. When in doubt, the use of the terms Brother, Sister, Auntie, Uncle, Grandmother and Grandfather would suffice, but never, ever the person's actual name unless you are sure he/she is of the same of younger generation than you are and not significantly older than you.

Confused yet? Don't be. My name reflects my culture. It is a product of 5000 years of Chinese history and family traditions. It was given to me by my parents and the meanings inherent in my name reflect the hopes and aspirations of my family. My name is what makes me who I am, and it defines who we are as a people. Don't make me take a Western name or have me change my surname into a lastname just to suit you. I take the trouble to pronounce the names from other cultures properly. Do me the curteousy of learning mine. :-)

My name is Liang Jieming (梁傑明).