If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?
Since we were created with different tongues, I find it very interesting how names sound different in other cultures.
So though my name has just four simple letters, in English it can’t be pronounced the same.
In Arabic, the h is pronounced clearly, like the h in hello, but it is dropped in English because it’s difficult to pronounce when followed by an L.
And things don’t stop there as the other three letters are also pronounced differently… more stronger.
But I’ve been used to it, and I actually like the change.
When my husband and I chose Arabic names for our children, we tried our best to make them easy for English speakers to pronounce. Still, they never sound the same.
Different tongues, right.
And then, years ago, more interesting things happened.
One of my friends told me about her attempt to correct the pronunciation of her name for English speakers, but none of them worked.
Her name is Eman. Oh… how I love this name.
When I was young, I wished my name was Eman, after one of my favourite teachers.
And If it wasn’t already used in my family, I would have named my daughter Eman.
By the way, Eman means faith.
Isn’t that a beautiful meaning.
One day, as we were walking together, she suddenly started talking to herself.
‘It’s E and man. If they can easily pronounce man, why can’t they pronounce it in my name?’
‘Are you okay Eman?’ I asked
‘It’s just E and man.’
‘What?’
‘E and man.’
And we both burst out laughing.
With different- tongues thoughts,
Nahla
Pure and Simple 