What follows is from the Cornell AgriTech Belonging Bulletin. Many thanks to our colleagues Anna Katharine Mansfield and Amara Dunn-Silver, Cornell AgriTech A.C.E. Council co-chairs, who are taking a strong lead with AgriTech’s efforts to grow resiliency and adaptability. If there’s a topic you’d like them to explore, contact Anna Katharine or Amara, or you can submit a suggestion anonymously. For more information on SIPS access & community empowerment efforts, visit the SIPS A.C.E. webpage. You’ll also find previous editions of this bulletin on a wide range of helpful topics.
Want to be inclusive? Learn how to pronounce that ‘tricky’ name!
This bulletin was originally shared three years ago. As a new semester starts and we welcome new people to classrooms, labs, and other spaces, we thought it was worth re-visiting.
Our names are an important part of our identities. They may be connected to family history, culture, or religion. So learning and using the correct pronunciation of a person’s name communicates that they are important and that they belong. Also, having your name repeatedly mispronounced can have real consequences. (Check out this article: If You Don’t Know How to Say Someone’s Name, Just Ask)!
We’ve all seen or heard a name that we were afraid of trying to pronounce, and likely had a moment of panic trying to figure out what to do. But you’ve probably learned to pronounce many Latin names of insects, microorganisms, or plants – not to mention the chemicals found in foods or pesticides. If you can say ‘neonicotinoid,’ you can learn to pronounce unfamiliar names.
Perhaps a colleague or student has said “You can just call me ___.” It’s certainly important to respect a person’s choice of name. But pay attention to other cues (a shrug or sheepish smile) that might suggest that this isn’t their preference. If they’ve repeatedly experienced their name being mispronounced, they may suggest a nickname because it’s exhausting to repeatedly correct others, or because they dislike the perceived discomfort of people struggling to pronounce their preferred name.
If it feels appropriate, check in privately. Reassure your colleague that you are willing to learn to pronounce their name correctly and want to use the name they prefer. Then practice until you’ve got it down.
Here are some simple actions to help our co-workers, colleagues, and the growers and community members we work with feel like they belong:
Do:
- Ask the correct pronunciation of someone’s name when you first meet. Repeat once or twice, if necessary, to check.
- Put your researching skills to work and take time to learn the correct pronunciation. Write yourself a note. Practice on your own. Do what works for you. Sites like this one allow you to type in a name and see a phonetic spelling or hear it pronounced.
- If you will be introducing others (e.g., at a meeting), consider asking everyone for phonetic spellings (not just those with unfamiliar names) of their names in advance.
- If it’s been a while since you met someone and you need a reminder on name pronunciation, ask.
- Apologize briefly when you make a mistake, then move on.
- Gently correct colleagues when they mispronounce someone else’s name.
Don’t:
- Say that someone’s name is “tricky” or “difficult.” It may be unfamiliar to you, but it may be very common in other cultures or languages. Don’t make a person feel like they’re being “difficult” because you haven’t learned how to pronounce their name.
- Make a big deal out of learning to pronounce someone’s name in front of a group. This can make them feel singled out and “othered.” Make a note and go back to them privately.
- Over-apologize when you mispronounce someone’s name. Anything beyond a simple ‘I’m sorry!’ can make the person feel awkward and puts the responsibility on them to make you feel comfortable.
- Assign someone a nickname instead of learning to pronounce their preferred name. There is no situation in which this is respectful. Also, don’t make excuses.
- Correct someone’s pronunciation of their own name. They get to decide how to pronounce it, even if you’ve met someone else who pronounces the same name differently.
Learn more: