Translating your name into the local language?
 

(Apologies if this has been discussed, a brief search didn't turn up anything relevant)

Having worked with many international colleagues who relocated from outside the US to work here, I've noticed many of them adopt a westernized name to make it easier for Americans to pronounce. Sometimes, this is an English word that sounds like their native name - but often, it's just a western name they liked and picked at random ("Kevin").

While I would never encourage anyone to abandon their native identity, many folks I've asked about this have said they've found it immensely helpful in making their new colleagues more comfortable engaging with them.

I'm curious about the reverse of this phenomenon, as I know many FlyerTalkers are native Americans or Brits with Western names doing business in Asian markets like China, Japan, or Korea.

Do you translate your name into the local language when you do business - if so, for what country and language? How did you obtain your translation, and was it an accurate phonetic translation or simply a local name you liked? Do you use it on business cards and other correspondence? What would your advice be to others just getting started in your market?

Nope. Absolutely not needed. I suspect if you did that, if your name was "Bob" and you were in China asked to be called "Howlong" or something they would find it offensive.

Why not get a Chinese name?

Richard Waylons Anderson could be Anderson Dic Wei?

Thor Kontiki Heyerdahl (middle name made up) could be Heyerdahl Lei Kao

Lots of people in China long term will use a Chinese name (I do myself when I am over there). It is usually loosely based on their English name. My own surname starts with F, so my Chinese surname is 冯 (Feng), and my given name in Chinese starts with the same letter as my given name in English.

I do use it on my business cards as well -- I think it is primarily only people that speak Chinese that do it, however. It would look a bit strange if a non-Chinese speaker adopted one, since they probably couldn't pronounce it very well themselves.

When I lived in Japan I used Japanese characters that sounded like my Latin name, it was just easier for everyone.

The Chinese government "made up" a name for me for official document purposes. It sounded a little like my Western name and was composed of "good"characters. BTW, that's a danger for both people and companies since Chinese words sounding like the original one might be "bad". Now, in Korea, I just use my Western name, without any problems.

My wife, who is Korean of Chinese ancestry, had her birth name in Chinese characters, so she just used those (with a slightly different pronunciation). In fact, her Korean surname is "Shin", whose Chinese characters are the nickname for Shanghai, where we were living. Our Chinese friends said it was fate.

I haven't actually taken a Chinese name but I know what they will consistently do to my name trying to shoehorn it into their system and I consider that a sort-of name when I'm over there.

When I first started traveling to Japan, I tried to change the pronunciation of my name to Japenglish. All I did was make it unintelligible for everyone, Japanese or not. I went back to just saying it correctly and everyone was fine with it.

I use the Japanese phonetic alphabet (katakana) for mine but it's a very simple conversion and very commonly used for many foreign words that have made their way into the Japanese language. Chinese is a bit different because you could go phonetic and keep your name the same but the characters may not mean what you would hope. I don't think I'd total localize my name and go by Mr Tanaka in Japan or Mr Li in China, that seems a bit odd because so few do it although it's extremely common for Asians (Japan excluded) to adoot western first names.

i would strongly encourage anyone named "huey" to go by a different name if they visit russia.

My husband is known by his middle name Duncan which Italians cannot pronouncep so in Italy he uses an Italian version (Gianni) of his first name John (which is never used otherwise apart from on legal documents).

An interesting thread. I noticed during my recent trip to China, that reservations made for me by my guide were never for Mr. 747FC, but always by my first name. Apparently, there is a Chinese version of it that must closely match the English pronunciation.

Most of the common first and last names already have standard translations in Chinese. Maybe your last name is very uncommon and hard to find matching sounds in Chinese!

People always ask me to translate their names in Chinese. I told them to use Google Translate and it will do a better job. :p

I do business around the world and in many different languages. I've never changed my name but I have learned to respond to several different pronunciations. Although, when I lived in Spain, if I answered the phone and said this is "american pronunciation" then they would just be silent or go "uh uh uh" on the phone. Therefore, I answered the phone using the Spanish version of my first name; it just made it easier for everyone.

I've never had that issue doing business with the far east