An Ideas Into Action Guidebook: Communicating Across Cultures

What's in a Name

You can probably recall times when people have mispronounced your name or called you by the wrong name. Depending on the context) a newcomer at work, a hurried hello, a large industry show(, your reaction might have ranged from mild irritation to deep offense.

Getting names right is extremely important in cross-cultural relationships because it communicates respect for the other person. Often it's difficult because the sounds and spellings of names outside of your cultural boundaries may be unfamiliar and hard to remember.

Professional and honorific titles are an important part of names in many cultures. Addressing someone as Mister, Senora, Doctor, Herr, Signor, and Professor, for example, is proper in all cases except when ...