Tero International, Inc. Your Elite Training Team
Tero International, Inc. Your Elite Training Team
Correct name pronunciation is more than a linguistic issue in our globalized and interconnected world. It is a fundamental act of respect for gender, social, cultural, ethnic, religious, and family heritage. When a person's name is mispronounced, intentionally or unintentionally, it shows a lack of respect for one's identity, self-esteem and creates a barrier to inclusivity.
The mispronunciation of names was not considered a critical social issue. It was often unaddressed until people with ethnically and culturally diverse names started taking up leadership roles, and their names began to appear in the USA's public media. Notably, the entry of Kamala Harris, a Black woman of South Asian descent, into the 2024 presidential race has magnified the issue and brought mispronunciation of names to the forefront. Some political opponents deliberately undermined her abilities and candidacy by intentionally mispronouncing her Name. At other times, it has led to humorous situations as Doug Emhoff, the husband of Kamala Harris, said, "Mr. Trump, I know you have so much trouble pronouncing her Name. Here's the good news—after the election, you can just call her Madam President."
Kamala Harris's name mispronunciation is just one example, but research shows the issue is pervasive at all societal levels and has far-reaching consequences.
A recent NameCoach survey of 1060 individuals in the U.S., highlighted by the Society for Human Resource Management, states that:
The consequences of name mispronouncing are dire and leave a long and lasting impact on people.
Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that consistently mispronouncing names is a form of microaggression that implies "A statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority. It creates feelings of exclusion and devaluation. Dr. Rita Kohli, a cross-cultural psychologist, states, "When someone's name is consistently mispronounced, it's a microagression that chips away at their sense of self and belonging." The question is why people intentionally or unintentionally mispronounce names and what factors contribute to this anomaly.
Education System: Education from early childhood plays a vital role in getting used to the sounds and rhythm of diverse languages. For Americans, it is mostly English. The lack of diversity of languages at home and in schools contributes to this phenomenon. English is the primary language and medium of instruction for primary to high school, with its distinct phonetic rules and patterns. When confronted with foreign names with different sounds, phonetic rules, and intonations unfamiliar to English speakers, it leads to mispronunciations ( Enduring Effects).
Cultural Exposure, or lack of it, plays a crucial role. Familiarity with cultures influences the ability to pronounce names. The controversy over pronouncing Kamala Harris's Name has persisted from her senatorial to presidential candidacy. As aptly stated, "Despite mastering the likes of Klobuchar and Buttigieg, some commentators still appeared to be struggling with the pronunciation of Harris' comparatively straightforward name." It shows people's lack of exposure, awareness, and ease of connecting with Asian cultures compared to European cultures.
Racism and Biases: Despite America's ethnically diverse society, many people still have limited interaction with dissimilar beliefs and values due to their unconscious and implicit biases. As a prominent psychologist, Rita Kohli clarified, "The changing of people's names has a racialized history. It's grounded in slavery – the renaming during slavery… there is a lot of history that's tied to this practice that is directly connected to racism."
Bias Toward Easier Names: Research suggests that people are more receptive to short and easily pronounced names. As cited in the Journal of Experiment Social Psychology, "the easier a name is to pronounce, the more positively it is judged…this holds for name evaluation, voting preferences, and occupational status." It is based on the hedonic marking hypothesis , which states that easier stimulus creates positive responses compared to complex and unknown stimuli. Such reactions impact people's judgment and comfort with names.
People employ various strategies to address name mispronunciations. Some may simplify or shorten their names to make them easier for others to pronounce, while others adopt a nickname or a Westernized version to blend in more easily.
Research shows that individuals from non-Western backgrounds often adopt Western names or anglicize their original names to gain social acceptance. This practice is especially prevalent among Asian immigrants, particularly those of Chinese descent, who may choose a Western name in addition to their Chinese one.
Studies document that 36% of minorities have reported "whitening" their résumés to avoid potential racial bias during the job application process. This practice can include altering names to sound more traditionally "white" to increase their chances of securing an interview. A study by Harvard Business School found that minority job applicants who "whiten" or anglicize their names are more than twice as likely to receive callbacks for interviews.
Many people also abbreviate their names to gain acceptance in social and professional settings. For example, an Indian name like "Joginder" might become "Joe," and "Mohammed" is often shortened to "Mo."
These strategies help individuals navigate social and professional environments while protecting their ethnic identity from becoming a target of racial discrimination and bias. Learning unfamiliar names requires effort, persistence, and repetition. However, it can be done if individuals and organizations are proactive, conscious of their biases, and committed to using inclusive and effective strategies
"Getting someone's name right should not be optional." Praveen Shanbhag
Leaders and human relations experts should recognize the importance of correct name pronunciation. They should understand its implications and not dismiss it as a trivial matter. Various strategies can be implemented to train and educate employees on addressing this critical issue.
Cultivate a Culture of Respect: Encourage an organizational culture where correct name pronunciation is a sign of respect, inclusivity, and appreciation of diversity. As highlighted by Race Equality Matters and cited in the medical news , mispronouncing names can have a significant negative impact, "73% of people have had their name mispronounced, 43% said it made them feel disrespected, 30% found it upsetting, and 21% said it made them feel they did not belong." This underscores the urgency and importance of this issue.
Use Pronunciation Guides and Technology: Include pronunciation guides or phonetic spellings of names in company directories, email signatures, and other communication channels. Employees should be encouraged to use online resources such as HowToPronounce and YouTube channels. Digital business card apps like HiHello and LinkedIn, browsers like Chrome, Slack, Google, and numerous online dictionaries are becoming popular in enhancing learning.
Provide Training and Resources: Implement training sessions on cultural sensitivity, respect, and interpersonal relationships. These sessions should include interactive activities encouraging participants to practice name pronunciation while fostering empathy and understanding. The training should provide practical approaches for addressing challenges related to unfamiliar or difficult-to-pronounce names, emphasizing the importance of learning and using names correctly.
Continuous Support and Reinforcement: Leaders and H.R. experts must stay committed to supporting correct name pronunciation. It's about teaching the strategies and regularly reminding and praising employees. Leaders should lead by example, set the organization's tone, and build employee confidence to foster a more respectful and inclusive workplace.
Name mispronunciation has become a public and personal issue across all levels of society. Mispronouncing or distorting a person's name signals identity, culture, and heritage are not considered worth understanding. In response, many individuals have adopted informal solutions, such as anglicizing their names or adopting Western alternatives. However, organizations must recognize and proactively address this issue to foster an inclusive environment for all members. As Dale Carnegie said, "A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language." Correctly pronouncing someone's name is one of the greatest compliments.
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