This brings to mind the burning question: If you're really, really Chinese, would you seriously name your kid Gary?
That's a joke- about Gary. Though, I actually don't know an Asian people named Gary either.
From Wikipedia, Gary Locke's given name is: 駱家輝 (Lok Gaa-Fai)
The last name Locke, however, is a very unusual Anglicization of a Chinese name. Most Chinese names when Anglicized still maintain some distinctive Chinese look. Anglicizing of last names is pretty common for Europeans coming to the United States, but it's just a little strange to see a Chinese name Anglicized to the point where it's no longer recognizably Chinese.
From Wikipedia, Gary Locke's given name is: 駱家輝 (Lok Gaa-Fai)
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What name would constitute a "better" Chinese name?
Ok, my (asian american) coworkers are recommending a movie called "Ping Pong Playa", which apparently mocks some Chinese stereotypes.
Dale, as much as you talk about the stereotypes, I was wondering if you'd seen it.
I'm joking about the name Gary, by the way. Locke is just a somewhat strange Anglicization of Lok. There are few Chinese names that crossover. Lee is one of the few that I know. I know that there are non-Chinese people with the last name Lee, but if I see it, I generally think Chinese first.
Actually, someone else also suggested I watch that movie. I wonder where I could get it...
I actually know at least two Chinese people named Gary.
well, seeing that Locke is a 3rd generation Chinese American, that probably meant his grandaparents originally immigrated around 1900 during the Chinese Exclusion Act. So I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to keep a lower profile by choosing an Anglo spelling.
Those people with last names "Ng" should definitely anglicize it more because no one can pronounce that.
by the way, is there a difference between romanizing vs anglicizing?
RE: by the way, is there a difference between romanizing vs anglicizing
Yes, there is a difference between the two. Romanization is just the process of using the alphabet to recreate words from other languages. Anglicizing is making those words more English.
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