What's in a name? HEATHER DAVIS
I used to think that I had the most unexotic, easy-to-spell, boring name on earth -- Heather Davis. In all my carefree British Columbia days, nobody had ever asked me how to spell it -- the worst I had suffered was an occasional Davies slip.
I had always laughed at the continual butchering of my companion's name -- Ghislain. Most people just stared when he said it, and few attempted to repeat the seemingly random sprawl of letters. Those who had no choice but to try ended up saying Gasoline, Jeeslin, Gooselain, or a myriad of other mispronunciations. Occasionally parcels were delivered to Mr. Jess Laine. Through it all I laughed, never thinking for a moment that it might happen to me.
It did. Just as Ghislain is the most difficult name to say in English, Heather seems to be the biggest conundrum en francais. Start with the 'H' at the beginning and take into consideration that in French, it is not pronounced. That leaves us with Eather.
Next take the 'th' in the middle and pretend that you have never made this sound in your life. Now my name becomes Eader.
Finally, understand that 'ea' can be pronounced 'ee' or 'i', which leaves us with two derivatives of my butchered anglophone name -- Eeder and Eider.
Of course, phonics being the puzzle that it is in any language; there are really more than two variations. I have also heard Heeter, Eder, and Either to name a few.
All this has led me to think perhaps I should use my middle name -- Jacqueline -- and give people a break? But then I think it is all just too amusing. Why give it up? It is my sole revenge as I struggle to learn a difficult language in a strange place.
For example, while waiting to get my Quebec driver's license, I was called up to the counter twice. I kept my ears strained and watched closely so as not to miss some distorted name massacre. Both gentlemen stood looking at my card and papers for several minutes before announcing, "Jacqueline Davis?"
So perhaps I won't be the one to decide after all.
Well, c'est la vie!
Copyright © 2000 Heather Davis/Log Cabin Chronicles/02.2000 |
