A writer once said: “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language”.
That being said, how should you act when someone pronounces yours wrongly? You may feel a strong need to correct the person, and this is in order. But you also don’t want to offend or embarrass them.
Though it can be awkward, but experts say you should make sure people say your name correctly from the start. The reason is because your name is your personal brand, and is something you want people to use accurately; for the more someone says it incorrectly, the more accustomed they will become to the mispronunciation.
It’s important to set it straight in the beginning, You are your own brand. So you want to be introduced correctly at every opportunity.
says Vicki Salemi, a career and human resources expert
When you find yourself wanting to correct a mispronunciation, one gracious way is to simply restate your name. This allows you to say the correct version of your name without explicitly correcting the other person.
“This is particularly easy to do during any sort of introductory exchange”, says Amanda Augustine, a career expert. If you have just been introduced, she adds, you can say something like, “Hello, again, my name is Chidiogo Fowowe.”
What if you have already met the person and missed the opportunity to restate your name? Amanda says it’s best to pull the person aside and politely tell them how your name should be pronounced.
The most important thing to remember is the delivery. Make sure you are not being defensive. Always keep the tone casual and friendly.
Finally most name mispronunciations are honest mistakes. No one wants to address someone incorrectly, hence, will be happy to make the correction. In that sense, it’s your duty to others as much as to yourself to let people know if there’s an issue.
If you don’t correct someone else’s pronunciation, no one else is going to do it for you. They might not even know they are saying it wrong!
completes Amanda.
Source: teenkidsnews.com
