Open AccessThe Politics of Naming: A Personal Reflection 1
Author(s) -
Valerie Alia
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
names
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.2
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1756-2279
pISSN - 0027-7738
DOI - 10.1179/nam.2007.55.4.457
Subject(s) - multiculturalism , politics , homeland , diaspora , immigration , power (physics) , onomastics , sociology , gender studies , history , political science , law , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , pedagogy
Naming is an important key to understanding power relations. My inquiry into what I have called political onomastics-the politics of naming-dates back to the early 1980s and includes research on the experiences and practices of Inuit and of immigrants in Canadian, U.S., and European diasporas. Having looked at naming across various regions, nations, and cultures, it seemed time to bring the journey closer to home. As the child of European-Jewish immigrants to North America, I grew up hearing naming stories. Here I consider the power of naming, starting at Ellis Island and including experiences of naming in a multicultural family, selfre-naming and remarriage, and reflect on the differences and similarities between Ashkenazim and Inuit, homeland and diaspora.