Reflection - Game Names

I read a writing entitled “Game Names” by Karen Angel for one of my classes. After reading the writing, I realized that the writing shows me that I am not the only person who has ever been in trouble with the name. From the writing, I have learned two things.

First, I learn a new concept related to the culture, language, and identity. The concept is ‘name creates identity’. The writing proves it, and so does my experience. When I was a student in elementary and junior high school, at the time I introduced myself to friends and teachers by mentioning my full name, all of them would directly guess that I was not a totally Javanese (in other words, I come from outside Java and so do my parent). Whereas in fact, I am included to a Javanese because I was born and raised in Java island. Another proof to show that I am a Javanese is my mother who is a pure Javanese (even though my father is an Ambonese). However, because of my last name -Tayl- that sounds unfamiliar for them, they considered me as someone who comes from outside Java. They would look me as an Ambonese only. At the time, I felt a little bit disappointed with the name my parents gave. I wondered why my parents had to put my father's family name -Tayl- in my whole name. I am not ashamed to be an Ambonese, but the only thing is the family name made me feel that I was a stranger among my friends because most of my friends (especially my close friends) are Javanese. I had ever asked my father to remove his family name from my whole name, but he just responded it by laughing and told me that the family name was important. As times go on, I can understand why he put the family name even though I still do not know what the word “Tayl” means. The family name shows my identity to all people in the world that I am a part of Tayl’s family.

Another thing I learn is ‘name affects self-confidence”. In the writing, there was a statement said that English name makes someone very fashionable and trendy. I do not know whether I have to agree with the argument or not because it is a complicated thing to think. When I was an elementary student, my first name ‘Elisabeth’ that I think could be considered as an English name made me less confident. The reason was because many of my friends in elementary school had an Indonesian name, such as Fitri Nurhayati, Dyah Novita Sari, Dewi Murtiningsih and etc. At that time, I felt that my name was strange to hear and meaningless, so that I felt uncomfortable with the name and I felt less confident of myself. But now, I feel comfortable to have the name. It is because many of my friends now have an English name, so that I do not have to be a strange among my friends.

Finally, I want to say that this writing is like a mirror for me as a reader. It reflects me back about what I had experienced with my name.