BBC 6分钟英语 名字如何讲述痛苦的故事

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BBC learning english dot com. Hello.

This is Minute English from BBC Learning English.

I'm Neil and I'm Beth. In every language, theres one word which has special power over us.

Our name, our senses, feelings and whole

identity are closely link to our name.

Yet strangely, our name isn't usually something we choose.

It's given to us by our paren'ts.

But what if the name you are given up birth doesn't fit?

Maybe you simply don't like it, or maybe there are bigger reasons for wanting to change your name, reasons connected with historical injustices or unfair events in the past.

In this program, will be meeting two people whose family history has caused them to consider changing their name.

And as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.

Sounds good best. But 1st, I have a question for you.

My name Neil, is a British name and was given to me at birth.

But names change a lot between cultures and religions.

Many Muslim boys are named Mohamed.

Indian boys are often called Ram or Krishna, and in Mexico, some boys are named Hezus.

So according to a recent global survey, what is currently the world s most popular boy s name?

Is it A Hazus? B, mohammed or C Noah, hmm, I guess it's Mohammed.

OK, beth, I'll reveal the answer at the end of the program.

In Britain, a person's 1st name is also called their Christian name.

And in Christianity, many names have a religious meaning.

The name John, E.G., means God is good.

Anderson. Jeremiah is the Bishop of Edmonton.

He was born in South India, but he doesn't have a traditional Indian sounding name.

Here, bishop Jeremiah explains the roots of his name to BBC World Service program Heart and soul.

It was, I was the name of one John Anderson.

He was the 1st educational missionary who came and worked and set up several schools in South India, who had very noble ambitions.

But also, as with any missionaries, he was a big collaborator of the colonial establishment at that point in time.

So he has a very strong baggage that goes with it.

So Anderson is my Christian name, and Jeremiah is my dad's name.

Bishop Anderson jeremiah's name comes from another man, john Anderson, a Christian missionary during the British Empire.

The history of the British Empire in India is controversial, with many views on all sides.

Bishop Jeremiah thinks that some of the empire's missionaries were noble, meaning admirable or morally good, but nevertheless, john Anderson was part of a violent and exploitative Empire.

Bishop Jeremiah uses the word baggage to describe the beliefs, especially outdated or unhelpful beliefs, which influence how people think.

Emotional baggage tends to influence the feelings of one individual, while historical baggage can affect whole societies.

In India, names serve an important purpose to signify social status.

Low status Indians, including Bishop Andersons Grandparen'ts escaped social discrimination by converting to Christianity and taking another Christian name.

But elsewhere in the British empire, names were connected with something completely un Christian slavery.

Black British writer Professor Robert Beckford is an activist theologian at the University of Winchester.

His surname Beckford is a slave name passed down from his enslaved African ancestors in 18th century Jamaica.

Here, professor Beckford talks to BBC World Service program heart and soul, about his decision to name his son Mica.

And before my son is named Mica, michael Becford, after one of the prophets.

So I do like the idea of people in the biblical tradition who speak truth to tap power, who rough all the people's feathers, who challenge the injustice.

I haven't thought of giving myself a biblical name.

I could never find a name that really resonated with me.

The phrase to speak truth to power describes times when people non violently resist an oppressive force, such as a government or corporation by telling the truth.

And if you ruffle someone's feathers, you upset or annoy them, maybe it's not so much your name as what you do with it that counts.

Anyway, it's time to reveal the answer to your question.

Neil Yes, I asked you which boy's name is currently the world's most popular?

And you guessed Mohammed. Which was

the correct answer. Right? Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with injustice, a situation lacking

fairness or justice. In British English, your Christian name is your 1st name, the name you are given at birth.

The adjective noble means admirable or morally good.

Baggage refers to beliefs and feelings, especially outdated or unhelpful ones, which influence how someone thinks.

The idiom speak, Truth to Power describes when people non violently resist in oppressive force, such as a government or corporation by telling the truth.

And finally, to ruffle someone's feathers means to upset or annoy them.

Once again, our 6 min are up, but remember to join us again next time for more trending topics and useful vocabulary here at 6 min English.

Bye for now. Bye. 6 min English from BBC learning english dot com.

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