I'm probably overthinking this.

[topazionheart.livejournal.com]

Let me ask something - how do you pick a name's spelling?

A lot of the names I like are Mongolian, as it's part of my heritage and I like the meanings in them. But a lot of those names have uncertain spellings; in Cryllic they've got only one, and it's easy enough for people to figure out how to say your name in Mongolia because they're used to those sounds, but abroad you begin to run into problems.

Borood, for instance, is pronounced boro-od, not bo-rude like people assume. Khair isn't said like care, it's more like ka-hair. And even in Mongolia nobody can spell Jamuka the same way twice. (Jamuqa, Jamukha, Jamuqha, Jumukaa...) Then there's the double a's that seem to trip people up in Ayulaan and Tsusmaa, which I've never understood why that's hard, but it is for people. As is the kh = q rule in antiquated Mongolian names.

So how do you pick a name's spelling? How do you decide whether to go with, say, Khairzurkh or Qairzurq or Kaairzurk? Do you think names spellings should be changed to make the pronounciation clearer or they should stay in their traditional spelling?

Comments

[octobre09.livejournal.com]

I'm all for sticking with the original spelling, even if you might have to tell people how to pronounce it. I wouldn't simplify or "Americanized" the spelling. For example, we are French Canadian and so my daughter's name is French, Cléa. It was very important for me to spell it in its original language even if I sometimes have to explain that "é" makes the sound "ay."

[topazionheart.livejournal.com]

It was very important to my father that his children keep Mongolian names, although my mother convinced him otherwise for one of my siblings. The rest of us have very traditional names, spelled the old fashioned way. But it's a little different in that most people I know would get that é makes an ay sound, whereas q making a kh sound is less well known.

[octobre09.livejournal.com]

Sounds almost like a French "q".

[topazionheart.livejournal.com]

What does the French "q" sound like? And if you don't mind me asking, how would a French person say Qairzurq?

[octobre09.livejournal.com]

It's just like a "k" sound. So I would say "Kairzurk."

[topazionheart.livejournal.com]

So it wouldn't be far off from the typical guess at it, and I'd still have to correct you a bit. Although I think maybe as someone of a non-English speaking background you'd be more receptive to being corrected. (My brother corrected his daughter's teacher on how to say Tuimer and she called him a pretentious snob.)

[octobre09.livejournal.com]

I'd much rather be corrected then to keep saying it wrong. If seeing it written down, I would probably ask anyway just to make sure. I correct how people say my daughter's name all the time (I get a lot of Clee-ah and Kayla) but I just find a reference for them (usually I say it's pronounced like Princess Leia with a C in front) and they get it right from there on. I know it might be hard to write phonetically but do you correctly pronounce "Qairzurq"?

[topazionheart.livejournal.com]

It's Kh (k with a seperate h sound, not like ch or sch) air zur k (normal k sound).

[dehaywardati.livejournal.com]

"as some-one of a non-English speaking background you'd be more receptive to being corrected"

That's quite stereotypical of you, tbh. English speakers are no more close minded or open minded than non-English speakers; I've been told by Turkish and Spanish speakers that they couldn't bother to pronounce my name correctly (and my name is Natalie, so c'mon). Some people are open to the idea, and some aren't. I think it has more to do with how much exposure you have with other languages, cultures, nationalities and ethnicities.

[fleckerbug.livejournal.com]

I would go with what was closest to the traditional spelling, unless there's already a standardized spelling in my language.

[shakeycat.livejournal.com]

It sounds like they'd have to be pronounced for substitute teachers no matter what, and sometimes over and over again for certain people in the child's life. They'll always need to spell them out, no matter if it's Qairzurq or Kaairzurk. And it's not like they'll be having to spell out "Bosstynn". If there's a spelling you prefer - great! And bonus points if others will pronounce it right the first time. I'm sure the baby-names group wouldn't mind being polled on which spelling they'd most likely pronounce correctly.

From the few Mongolians I know, it seems they often have easy nicknames (Batnasan/Nasa, Enjine/Enji) that are easy for non-Mongolian speakers to pronounce.

And kudos to you for choosing Mongolian names! I totally respect the tie to heritage. Just don't let Borood and Jamuka call themselves Bob and Jen :)

[topazionheart.livejournal.com]

I find the idea of Borood having the nickname Bob hysterical and I don't know why. XD

True, nicknames are a Godsend for tricky names. Even when people find your first name hard, a nickname can always save the day.