ChatterBank1 min ago
Name Shortening
Why are we obsessed with name shortening?
I've often wondered why we give someone a name, only for people to shorten it.
I remember my Father used to get really angry when anyone addressed my Mum as Mon instead of her full name Monica.
I recently noticed a guy who works in B&Q who is head of the showroom section who is called David, but hates being called Dave. He even corrected me and said sorry but my name is David not Dave.
My partners daughter was Christened Kimberly but hates being called that and prefers Kim.
Not sure if anyone on here are touchy about name shortening, but why do we do it?
It happens in everyday words too, like in hospital nurses might say op instead of operation, or obs for observations.
I know it's nothing new, name shortening is ancient, but are we the only country that does it? I imagine in some languages it wouldn't work.
Answers
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I did think that, but not in all cases shortening a name pleases the person your addressing.
Like the manager in B&Q for example hates being called Dave instead of David.
In my experience over my lifetime I have witnessed some very irritated people about name shortening or deliberate lengthening.
I just remembered my partners daughter hates it if someone calls her son Christopher. She actually gives the person hell, and says he's called Chris. I made this mistake π
"My wife has never called me 'Andrew' in almost forty-five years, and I hope she never does, I don't like it."
My brother-in-law is Andy: his parents always called him Andrew, which seemed right coming from them, but to everyone else he's Andy. I have a friend Andrew tho who hates "Andy" and three work colleagues called David, two of who must be "David" and one who is "Dave". All these things are understandable.