The link below is to a column recently published in The Oregonian about the practical effects of a change in the name of a geographic landmark. It takes on particular interest in the wake of our recent class readings, "You Are What You Say" and "Sexism in English," and our subsequent class discussions.
"Word rarely used -- good advice for all"
Questions to ponder:
Midway thru the column, Parker writes, "I guess it's understandable how people get attached to names," but he doesn't explain any further. Why do you think people get attached to names, and what does it say about the relationship between language and the world?
Parker's comments about both Mt. Hood and Squaw Mountain Road raise the question -- What gives a name significance? For a personal perspective on the question, consider: what is your response to his suggestion for re-naming Mt. Hood? Why do you feel that way? Before reading this column, did you know what the significance of Mt. Hood's name was? Did, or does, that matter?
What decision should the Clackamas County commissioners make about Squaw Mountain Road? Why? What does your answer say about your view of the relationship between language and the world? Why do you hold that view?
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19 comments:
It would seem exhausting trying to change every road name or landmark name that's offensive to some into something more politically correct.
I didn't know about the background information to Mt.Hood's name. Now that I do, I'm not going to anything about it. What good would that do? At the time, it was given that name for a reason. There is always going to be someone out there who will find something offensive. It doesn't mean we should go off trying to change the names of everything because a certain word over time has transformed into a more politically correct word. Wouldn't we end up changing the name of something over and over again?
It's interesting how people get so attached to names. Perhaps its because people associate names with what they symbolize or represent. For instance, when two parents are thinking of a name for a child, they try to pick a name with a good meaning or a certain significance in the world. IT is after the child recieves the name, that the the child is forever associated with the name. It's interesting how a child is forever bonded with a name that the parent gives him/her. So many times, its hard to analyze that a name is afterall, just a word, however its amazing how people become so attached to a name, that it soon may even define a thing or define a character; even though the effect should be that the name influences the object.
I think words are just words and names are just names. They change and they gain or lose power. They disappear and new words are created. To change the names of roads and landmarks could really end up being and endless job. Also, who decides when words become offensive? How long do they have to be used in whatever context to make their meanings suddenly change? I really don't understand how it all works. I also dont understand why some words carry so much power, while others don't have much meaning at all.
I can understand why they are changing names, but I also think that it's just a tiring job that will never end. Words and meanings never stop changing.
I guess I just never let the term Squaw get to me and like Parker I don't find it that offensive. I think if people want to change the name of these places then go ahead...but like Becky said it will just become exhausting. I think it would also be pointless because I think majority of the people will still call them by their old names. This is kind of different...but GI Joe's changed their name to just Joe's now, but I think a lot of people will still call it GI Joe's. So just because they change the names of these places they will still be called the same by most people. I didn't know the background on how Mt. Hood and how it got its name but I will still call it Mt. Hood if they one day change it.
People get attached to names because it defines what it is. But it is more than the name itself, there are also symbols and colors that can be used to identify an object or person as well. For example: Golden Arches, Green and a Red Chicken all represent a restaurant. McDonald, Starbucks and Red Robin. Names/ Symbols become landmarks and common knowledge. If you were to change Mt. Hood’s name, there are people who would forever call it Mt. Hood. You would end up with 2 names for the same mountain, therefore getting people really confused. Why change a name if it works?
I understand how people get attached to names, it is how the associate themselves with places and things. I have grown up knowing Mt. Hood by that name, if it were to change I would still call it that. Not because I’m stubborn or anything, but because that’s what I know it as. I do not think the word squaw is offensive, it was a traditional native American word, just because someone made it negative, doesn’t mean we need to change it. Maybe we need to change the connotation of the word, not the actual word.
I believe the reason people become so attached to a name is the fact that a name sets something apart from something else. You can't just go around saying "this road" or "that road," it would get too confusing.
As for names of people, its basically who we are. I'm tommy, Mr. Currier is Mr. Currier. No one refers to one another as "the kid who goes to gresham and plays baseball" or "the TOK teacher at gresham." A name is what defines us as individuals.
I believe that people are not attached to words but are more attached to the way they know what the object named is. For instance I'm not attached to the name Matt, and most people are not attached to it either, but what they are attached to is the fact that thats what I'm labled with. If I changed my name to Bob people would be more irritated with the fact that in order to grab my attention or to refer to me they now have to change how they first looked at me, it becomes in their minds, "wasted effor" - (Mr. Sage)
The same can be said with roads and rivers and anything else.
I already knew the history of Mt.Hood but it did not change my perspective on the land mark, I personally wouldnt care if it got its name cause it looked like a hood on a sweat shirt, but because I was informed that its Mt. Hood and I have spent so much time in remembering that its called mt. hood I will always call it that. To change it would be a waste of time to me, and find it equally the same for changing anythings name. It would just be annoying.
I agree with Parker in how he says that its understandable how people get so attatched to names. When a couple picks a name, they most often do not randomly pick a name out of a book. Most of the time, people put alot of thought into picking names becuase they want their child to represent something such as a cherished object or a loved family member. For example, when a child is named Bob Jr. they are named after a family member who perhaps had a significant impact upon the family therefore would like to carry on the name. I think that people make a big deal out of names and are so attatched to them becuase they represnt much more than letters, but rather a significant part of the family's values.
People become attached to names for different reasons. Sometimes it's the repetitiveness of hearing the name, such as the street you live on or writing your address. Or it could come from some experience with the place, for example if the street was the first place you rode your bike on by yourself, you might feel some attachtment to the name, not because of the name, but because of the place and the memory there. I think that people become attached to names because they have experiences there that they don't want to lose and in some way changing the name somewhat changes the experience. This shows how language is an intricate part of our world, because the names we put with things are important, and although changing the name does not change the object or memory, it does change the effect.
I think that changing the name of the road will not change the place or the experiences and memories that are there, but I think that is what people are afraid of, that it could change. I don't think this is really about language, it's more about how humans seem to resist change in their lives. They want things to remain constant, because really it doesn't matter what the road is called it's the same road, but changing the name makes people afriad that the road will change or they will lose something. I don't think that changing the name of my street would matter, because it's still the same street and my house is still the same, but some people believe otherwise.
I found this article interesting. I think that the importance of names is for reference. Instead of saying "Hey meet me at the mountain," which is a very vague statement... I mean how would the person know which mountain to go to? Because of names we can say, "Hey, meet me at Mt. Everest." Names are for significance and meaning. When a baby is born it is given a name. The name can be picked for various reasons, but when it comes down to it, names are just identification tools and without them it would be very difficult to communicate.
I think that times have changed and some names are offensive to people but were not offensive at the time the thing was named. I agree with Becky when she said "At the time, it was given a name for a reason." IT is very hard to please everyone, but changing it would make no sense because 100 years from now the next generation would find it offensive somehow.
Ok so I'm pretty sure this changing names things is complete BS. By changing names, you're changing history. It's the past, it's done, and it was done for a reason. I'd really like to find out just how many people get offended by proper names that include Squaw and the like. What about the Grand Tetons? We all know what that stands for...but has anyone seen them. Holy cow, those mountains are beautiful! I surely wouldn't get offended if they were name after me ;)
Oh, and anyone heard of Cock Rock? Well, I guess they changed that to Rooster Rock, didn't they?
I really don't understand how this politically correct thing got so popular anyhow. All I hear are people who complain about it, so why do we comply? This is like saying, "Emily...I hate your name..it offends me for no good reason so from now on I'm going to call you DPS SUV."
We live in a society that tries to embrace culture and history and diversity, but now when one thing offends one person it must be changed. Guess what...that will NEVER work. Because, frankly, I don't care if the names we have for things are based on a patriarchal, sexist, culture..that is what are history used to be and changing THAT OFFENDS ME.
Wow, this article was quite interesting. Especially how much meaning is tied to names, like Hood and the Confederacy museum. Our naming system for natural features shows where we hold values, which raises the idea to change mt. Hood's name. And in that sense, I believe it does matter to have names reflect a culture's heritage, such as people who have made a difference. But like Becky said, it would be frivolous to change every name to be unanimously correct for everyone. A name means something, whether it be eternally or just for a certain people/time.
Names are a crucial part of language. Names give meaning and make connections. No one is going to know what I'm talking about if I started calling Mt.Hood Snow Lake. People get attached to the names because if the names were changed you would loose all previous connotations with the name. It would be like starting over. If we changed the name of Mt. Hood it would be like it didn't exist before the name change. Maps and literature that mentioned Mt.Hood would become inaccurate. Thats why people get so attached to names. Because they get connected to so many other things.
changing names is kind of a big deal. people get attached to the names because it creates familiarity. when i think of the word "mom" alot of memories and emotions come to mind but if someone were to change that to gaberdiddy or something it wouldnt bring up those emotions because i havent attached meaning to that word. i mean its cool if they have to change a name of a street or something because there are people getting offended by it but it just takes time to attach words with feelings... you know?
This is really interesting. To be honest i think this name Squaw has blown out of control. It is a name that on one had made a big deal about until now, and that is only because there is people out there looking for things to complain about and they want to see their name in that paper..." Joe Smith changes the past just bay changing a name." Every name has meaning, and the meaning of a name is something we cant change. If i were to have a child and name him Joe, and little Karen's mothers didnt like that name b/c Joe was her Ex-Huband who cheated on her, are you going to talk to me and tell me to change his name, no. Names have meaning and things are name certain things for a reason, i feel also that names such as Squaw have been around for so long they have become a part of our history, so by changing the name Squaw to a name that isnt as offensive to like 5 people, is like erasing our history, something we may never get back. People need to loosen up and not get so offensive.
Names are a very significant part of who we are and what we distinguish. Language and word use determines what context we are placing something in, for example: the word "girl" is socially acceptable when referring to an adolescent female, but if you refer to an adult woman as "girl" then you are degrading her. These names become important also in everyone's own personal experience with the word. If you are called a moron you may look at it and say, "Well at least I am not an idiot." Some one else may take that same insult more severely. Does "knowing" a word play into the ways of knowing? If there are so many different perceptions of the same word then do you turn to perception in the ways of knowing. Do we all have the same ways of knowing? No, because we do not have the same perceptions. Does this mean that the definition of a word to one person does not mean that it is right if another person thinks the definition from the other person is wrong? For example: If someone says that that plastic round thin piece with four holes in it is a button and someone else says that it is a potato, how can we say what it is? If that potato person has that perception of it then how can we say that they are wrong if we don't share their perceptions?
I think that a name is what people decided best describes what they are naming. The problem is that meanings change, Squaw may be derogatory to some, but to others it is just a word. Mt. Hood was named for a reason, and I think the smarter thing to do is to leave the names as they are. Our culture is becoming more and more politically correct; it is almost to the point where every word is considered offensive to someone somewhere. It is ludacris to take the name of a mountain or a road to heart to the point that they need to be renamed.
I think everyone should understand why a landmark was named what it was, because when someone understands why something is the way it is, they are more likely to accept it.
It is interesting to see how different circles of individuals find thing to mean different things. I for one understand the need to be politically correct or basically just to be thoughful of other people. Although I feel that is true, I also feel that it is a bit ridiculous to change the names of landmarks and so forth. I feel that the historical aspect of our society is indeed what makes what we are. With that said, I think that the commissioners should halt any further change of titles because it is ridding us of history. This goes back to the words "under God" in the pledge allegience. Is it right to change what has been? I thinnk that it is all circumstantial. It should be done so in extremes. To we must remember that nevre will no one be offendd. Thus, it would be assanine to attempt to changes evrything that may offend someone. I think that this article demonstrates the importance of a name and how a name acts almost as a direct represention of the object. With that said, objects are our lives, thus it is important to both address and moderate them.
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