Once fodder for TV and movie comedy, non-Western names are increasingly common in American culture and work life. Moreover, as American companies increasingly have subsidiaries in or otherwise do business with foreign countries, exposure to such names is only increasing.
While encountering an unfamiliar name may have been an infrequent occurrence just a few years ago, it’s increasingly routine for many workers today.
Strong Need to Belong
Some Westerners may feel they are owed some latitude in their reasonable attempts to pronounce an unfamiliar name. However, having one’s name mispronounced by a manager or business counterpart, especially if it happens repeatedly, can be extremely demoralizing and make one feel like an outsider in their own organization.
