What’s in a Name? | Isha Marthur | TEDxYouth@WestVancouver

Summary

In this heartfelt speech, Yamato, an eighth-grader, shares her personal journey of navigating the challenges associated with having an uncommon name. Born as 'Isabel Motto' in India, her name was frequently mispronounced after moving to the USA, leading to teasing and embarrassment. Yamato reflects on the significance of names, the biases they can trigger, and how they can affect one's identity and opportunities. She urges empathy and understanding, encouraging others to learn and respect names rather than avoiding them, in the hope of fostering a more inclusive future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's birth name is Isabel Mather, an Indian name that means superior, but in the USA, it has often been mispronounced.
• 😅 The speaker faced challenges growing up because classmates teased them over a 'bad word' they thought was part of the name.
• 🤔 Mispronunciation of names continued to be an issue for the speaker, especially with teachers and substitutes during attendance calls.
• ☕ The speaker compared their experience to the famous coffee chain that frequently misspells names on cups.
• 😳 The speaker recalls an incident at Disney World where their parents used simplified versions of their names to make it easier for the cashier.
• 😞 The speaker eventually shortened their name to 'Isha' for ease and comfort, moving away from their original name.
• 🏞 The speaker highlights how names are tied to dignity, honor, and cultural identity, referencing the Squamish Nation's land where they were speaking.
• 📊 The speaker referenced a 2004 study showing racial bias in job callbacks, where resumes with Caucasian names received more responses than those with African-American names.
• 💼 The field study indicated that racial bias exists in the labor market, even among supposedly equal opportunity employers.
• 💡 The speaker encourages people to make the effort to ask how to pronounce unfamiliar names rather than avoiding them, as a way of showing respect and promoting inclusivity.

Q & A

What was Yamato's original birth name?

Yamato's original birth name was Isabel Motto.

What does the name Isabel Motto mean?

Isabel Motto is an Indian name and it means 'superior'.

Where was Yamato born and when did they move to the USA?

Yamato was born in Bangalore, India, and moved to the USA when they were 2 years old.

What was the issue with Yamato's name when they started kindergarten?

The issue was that Yamato's name was pronounced as 'Aishite', which sounded like a bad word to the classmates.

How did Yamato's classmates react to the pronunciation of their name?

Yamato's classmates laughed, teased, and made fun of them because of the bad word sound-alike in their name.

What is the significance of the coffee chain mentioned in the script?

The coffee chain is mentioned to illustrate how names can be misspelled or mispronounced, even when spelled out.

Why did Yamato's friends Lily and Darya have their names misspelled at the coffee chain?

Lily became 'Lemon' and Darya became 'Kareena' because of the common issue of names being misspelled at the coffee chain.

What was the impact of having an uncommon name on Yamato's school experiences?

Having an uncommon name led to awkward and embarrassing moments during attendance, especially with new or substitute teachers.

Why did Yamato's parents give different names at Disney World?

Yamato's parents gave different names to make it easier for the cashier to pronounce, avoiding the issues they often faced with their real names.

What decision did Yamato make regarding their name?

Yamato decided to shorten their name to 'Isha' in an attempt to have a more usual and easier to learn name.

What study is referenced in the script regarding names and job opportunities?

The study referenced is titled 'Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal?', a field study done in 2004 that measures racial bias in the labor market.

What was the conclusion of the field study mentioned in the script?

The study concluded that Caucasian-sounding names received more callbacks for job applications than African-American-sounding names, indicating a racial bias in the labor market.

What advice does Yamato give to people who meet someone with a hard-to-pronounce name?

Yamato advises people to be vulnerable and ask how to correctly pronounce someone's name, as they might have a shorter name or nickname, or be willing to help you learn their name.