No more "Christian name, sir?" in Kent, UK

[Judy Prince]

"First name" works nicely.

Judy

On 27 March 2010 07:17, Robin Hamilton <robin.hamilton2 at btinternet.com>wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Robin Hamilton <robin.hamilton2 at BTINTERNET.COM>
> Subject:      Re: No more "Christian name, sir?" in Kent, UK
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> For once, I'm with the Kent force here (or whoever wrote the guidelines).
>
> A few years ago, I became personally (internally) uncomfortable with the
> term "Christian name" -- while I have one, neither of my children do, since
> neither were Christianed.  So I guess the term is more offensive to
> atheists
> than to members of other religions.
>
> Actually, "offensive" is probably much too strong -- it's a case for me
> that
> there's just this slight element of discomfort and disturbance.
>
> Simply, I'm more comfortable with the term "given name" -- more accurate
> (if
> one can use the term in a lexical context, and risk the genetic fallacy),
> and carries less ideological baggage, therefore a "natural" (?)
> replacement.
>
> (Apparently, I have just been informed, the official term is "forename".)
>
> Terms which are quasi-endearments or possibly patronising are always tricky
> in context, and perhaps the poor bobbies are glad of the guidance.  I
> wonder
> how the East Midlands force deals with the term "me duck", which isn't
> gender specific?  It implies a kind of intimacy that an officer might be
> reluctant to suggest when feeling someone's collar.
>
> What *really disturbed me was the first time a police officer called me
> "Sir" -- sheesh, I thought, I *am old.  That gentleman is young enough to
> be
> my grandson.
>
> Having said all that, I don't particularly mind other people using the term
> "Christian name", even though I no longer employ it myself.  I understand
> what they intend, and perform an act of internal translation.
>
> Robin
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Mandel" <thnidu at GMAIL.COM>
> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2010 4:23 AM
> Subject: No more "Christian name, sir?" in Kent, UK
>
>
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> > header -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       Mark Mandel <thnidu at GMAIL.COM>
> > Subject:      No more "Christian name, sir?" in Kent, UK
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > *Police officers banned from asking for 'Christian'
> > names*<
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7472046/Police-officers=
> > -banned-from-asking-for-Christian-names.html>
> >
> > Police officers have been banned from asking for a person=E2=80=99s
> > =E2=80=
> > =9CChristian=E2=80=9D name
> > because it might offend people with other religious beliefs.
> > By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
> > from telegraph.co.uk
> > Published: 12:18PM GMT 18 Mar 2010
> >
> > Officers taking down a suspect=E2=80=99s particulars must now ask them
> for
> > =
> > a
> > =E2=80=9Cpersonal and family name=E2=80=9D in case the word
> > =E2=80=9CChrist=
> > ian=E2=80=9D offends Muslims,
> > Sikhs or other faiths, according to the new official guidance.
> >
> > Kent Police's prescriptive diversity rulebook also tells officers to
> > refrai=
> > n
> > from using phrases such as =E2=80=9Cmy dear=E2=80=9D or
> > =E2=80=9Clove=E2=80=
> > =9D, when addressing women for
> > fear it may cause =E2=80=9Cembarrassment or offence=E2=80=9D.
> >
> >
> > *[click headline for article. hat-tip to
> > copyediting<
> http://www.facebook.com/copyediting?v=3Dfeed&story_fbid=3D42418=
> > 0033331&ref=3Dmf>
> > **  on Facebook**] *
> >
> > m a m
> >
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