Names
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Photo: Greg |
What's in a name? Well, that depends on one's standpoint. And one of the many topics that is fascinating about life in Germany is that of names. Not those more popular family names such as Schmidt, Meyer, Schwarz or Weiss. Not even rare ones such as say Cloppenberger or Henrichson. No, what fascinates is the continued lack of so many to recognise and use first names.
It is rather strange at times for a foreigner trying to reach someone in an organisation. An unusual telephone conversation can ensue when a colleague of that person, say Frau or Herr Schmidt, confesses to knowing their first name. Especially in today's technologically connected world where, some seconds later, a search engine reveals all. Including extension and email.
Mother and father Schmidt may find it especially sad, since they did not spend too much time figuring out that their offspring would also be named Schmidt. What they did do, certainly, was to discuss at length their child's first names. Boy or girl, one name or more, fashionable trends, family ancestral considerations, favourite stars, beautiful occurrences on vacation; the list is never ending. And finally, when the decision seems to have been made what to call the kid, the whole process often comes up for discussion again.
Pregnant women and concerned men have been kept up night after night trying to make the right decision. A few years later, the first day at school can often reveal just how right or wrong that decision was. Colleagues even later then commit perhaps the ultimate crime in that they seem to ignore both their own and others experiences and dump the first name. Wow.
So why is that? Maybe too much room for interpretation of closeness and too many connotations? For, if first names are used, then one tends to assume the use of the personal form of German, Du. And that opens a Pandora's box of further consequences. Which is especially the case in the office and even more so following an office party.
It was Bob Dylan who sang, "...times, they are a changing" and no one would dispute that Germany has changed much in recent years. But boy, it does take time and patience. Although more and more people are using informal language nowadays this seldom takes place with strangers or across social and hierarchal divides. Many still wish for more rapid progression.