What is in a name? Everything

PushpavalliSrinivasan · Jan 6, 2015

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," is a frequently referenced part of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

The power of a name and its value has long been immortalized in prose, poetry, and religious ceremony. Everyone recognizes himself or herself by name.

We can argue a rose will smell the same with any other name. Even if we change its name it can't fight with us, but rose lovers can fight with us.

he he he he.......

There are some occupations which were looked down by people. For example clerk, cook, washerman, barber, mechanic, compounder and so on.....

New words are coined for them.

A clerk feels dignified when his designation refined as office assistant, a cook as chef or caterer, washerman as launderer, barber as hair dresser, mechanic as technician, compounder as pharmacist, and the last not the least a house wife is now christened as a home maker. Though they are doing the same work they feel dignified in the new names.

Previously those who can't see were known as blind and those who can't hear as deaf, but now we refer to them as visually impaired, hearing impaired and a mad person is known as mentally deranged.

Hence now we can't say what is in a name. A name gives dignity and respect to a person's occupation and even to handicapped persons. What do you think about this?

GoogleGlass · Jan 6, 2015

A humorous and a name-wracking one PS

Scorpio707 · Jan 6, 2015

PS,

Nice and thoughtful....going with the flow of upgraded names of old ones, wanted to mention conversion of "Husband" to "Hubby" now..not sure of others but I prefer referring as "Hubby" :biggrin2:

PushpavalliSrinivasan · Jan 6, 2015

Thank you GG for your first and prompt fb.

PS

Aria · Jan 6, 2015

Pushpa,

Your post brought a broad smile. Popular parodied line in college to woo -

Girl: "You don't even know my name"
Boy: "A person like you by any other name would still look beautiful!"

Huh! The cheese, caramel, marzipan loaded liners that you brush away but inwardly titter. Yes , name , name, what's in a name a lot if you are rejected entry twice because of misspelling. On a more contemplative note, the last passage of Umberto Eco's acclaimed book "Name of the Rose" ends with - "Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus" which is translated as "yesterday's rose lasts in its name, we embrace empty names today". The forlorn "rose" could be Aristotle's book of comedy or the dead peasant girl. Everything perished, only the "name" endures. Beautiful allegory to explain why we hold on to names because they evolve and outlive their incarnation.

Akanksha1982 · Jan 6, 2015

Except the home maker the rest just increase the price with the new names. Tailors are now fashion designers. gardeners are now landscape architects. we don't have doctors any more. We have specialists. Soon we will have left eye, right eye, get ear, right ear. left nostril, right nostril, left lung, right lung, left kidney, right kidney, etc specialist.

People also feel pride in getting service done by a specialist. Doesn't it feel great to say my hair stylist did my hair?

Yes everything is in the name. No one names their children Ravana, Kansa, Kaikayi.

Nice perspective PS.

kkrish · Jan 7, 2015

Dear Pushpa ma'am
I was reading your post with a smile at how accurate your observations are.
Yes these new coinings do give a different dimension. Adding to your list - Personnel departments are now called HumAn Resources. ☺
Enjoyed your post thoroughly, ma'am.

PushpavalliSrinivasan · Jan 7, 2015

Dear Scorpio,
I prefer to use hubby, and in IL DH, DD and DS is used for husband, daughter and son.
There are many more upgraded names and I do hope many of our friends will come up with them.
PS

PushpavalliSrinivasan · Jan 7, 2015

Aria said: ↑

Pushpa,

Your post brought a broad smile. Popular parodied line in college to woo -

Girl: "You don't even know my name"
Boy: "A person like you by any other name would still look beautiful!"

. That's a good one to collect a girlfriend .Boys are smart in that.

Huh! The cheese, caramel, marzipan loaded liners that you brush away but inwardly titter. Yes , name , name, what's in a name a lot if you are rejected entry twice because of misspelling. On a more contemplative note, the last passage of Umberto Eco's acclaimed book "Name of the Rose" ends with - "Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus" which is translated as "yesterday's rose lasts in its name, we embrace empty names today". The forlorn "rose" could be Aristotle's book of comedy or the dead peasant girl. Everything perished, only the "name" endures. Beautiful allegory to explain why we hold on to names because they evolve and outlive their incarnation.
Click to expand...

OMG! Again you started to embarrass me with your unique style by quoting Latin, Greek and what not and here I am switching back ang forth, you know what, Now I leave it to your imagination.

I like your write ups and fbs which enrich my vocabulary.
PS

satchitananda · Jan 7, 2015

Dear PS Mami,

I couldn't help smile. You have hit the nail on the head and substantiated your claims with such wonderful examples. I wonder what the bard would have to say if he was known by any name other than Shakespeare! :-D