Names are a fundamental part of identity, yet they are frequently misspelled and / or mispronounced in personal, educational and professional contexts. This paper examines the sociolinguistic, psychological and cultural dimensions of name misspelling and mispronunciation, with a particular focus on the African and particularly South African contexts where linguistic diversity intersects with colonial legacies. The paper argues that this phenomenon is not merely accidental but is often symptomatic of deep-rooted issues relating to power, identity and recognition. Using the Ubuntu philosophy, theory of mind (ToM), linguistic intimacy and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), the paper explores strategies for fostering name respect and pronunciation equity in multilingual and multicultural societies. An autoethnographic reflection is included to foreground the lived experiences of name distortion and its personal impact.

Authors:
Sebolelo Mokapela, University of Western Cape, South Africa

About the Presenter(s)
Dr S Mokapela is a Senior Lecturer in African Language Studies Dept at the University of Western Cape, a Mellon Inclusive Professoriate Program and IMPACT (Interdisciplinary Mentorship Program for Advancement of Collaborative Partnerships) recipient

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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