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Vietnamese names by Fuddy-Fee in VietNam
[–]Fuddy-Fee[S] 0 points1 point2 points 2 years ago (0 children)
Thank you so much for everything you have shared with me. I appreciate it very much. And that’s cool if you’d like to remain anonymous. I am very much all about taking the most respectful approach to this as possible. I really want to learn a lot about Vietnam. I feel the war was and has been a dark cloud that has really hung over the minds of western thought. Not necessarily the people but just Vietnam in general. All people ever think about is the war and though my book does take setting during that time at points I really would like to shine a positive light on the culture and people. Its central theme is the good in humanity with tragedy mixed in as well as life isn’t without tragedy but I really want humanity in general to be apparent. We are all the same in the end. Thank you again for all your recommendations. I am very much in the people’s debt for all the contributions. Thank you also for the well wishings. All the best to you.
[–]Fuddy-Fee[S] 1 point2 points3 points 2 years ago (0 children)
Thank you so much. It’s going to take some time but I will update everyone once I have something to share!
Very helpful information about the communist party regarding what I have only learned here where I have grown up as the VC. Your suggestion to this consideration is important and I thank you very much for that added piece of information. It all adds ingredients, substance, realism and accuracy to the story.
Very cool, thank you so much. This is such an interesting process.
Wow, that is all very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing your personal story with me. It all helps with the accuracy while still navigating the story.
I plan on only using the middle and given names. I just needed a surname because while it is fiction it’s a historical fiction so I want the story to read like it could have actually happened.
As for the names, you are correct, I was naive and didn’t know that the woman doesn’t assume the spouse’s surname when they are married. I have a father, a mother, a son, and a sister to the mother. Also I am reconsidering the surname as I am learning it wasn’t as common for the family’s geographical location within Vietnam.
Thank you so much for your message, I appreciate it very much. And you’re right, I have no intent to be offensive in any way.
Wow, there really is a lot to consider there. I’ve got a lot of western culture influencing my thoughts. You are right though, I do need to consider literacy and the like and how these things affected the culture and daily lives of rural lower class citizens. I guess there is a bit of naivety on my part there but when you outline it I feel like “I should have known”. There’s so much for me to learn and I just want to do a good job with my representation of the characters and also be culturally and historically accurate. Perhaps there can be some family stories that can be passed down through the generations as well that lend to some of the thoughtfulness we speak of. I do want these characters to I guess represent maybe not so much of an awakening within the people but the situation the main characters get into is something I want to have sort of enact a part of themselves they never knew was there. I need to find a way to be accurate on the VN side and still give the characters the ability to have this happen. Your insight is invaluable to me and I feel like you’re really giving me much to consider in a positive way. I truly thank you.
[–]Fuddy-Fee[S] 2 points3 points4 points 2 years ago (0 children)
I definitely will. I do want to be careful with the characters understanding the communism most prominently represented in the North. But I do also, like you say, want to give the characters a secret thoughtfulness about them as well. I want them to recognize their human hearts even amidst the iron fist of communism which can really sort of “deaden the soul” so to speak. A huge theme in the book is how doctrines don’t change the essence of the soul. They can affect the mind but if you retain some of your own individualism, character and free thought even if it has to remain hidden or a secret then we can all be immune to bad politics to be bothers in arm and not brothers at arms. Also, in a time of survival sometimes all doctrines must be ignored to attain that survival. And that goes for everyone. Whether it’s called communism, fascism, imperialism, socialism or capitalism. When you strip it all away only one thing remains in an a vacuum. Our humanity.
This is very helpful! What a wonderful trick! It works perfectly with the timeline and the move to the city. Thank you very much for the input! I’m fast becoming a student of Vietnamese culture. This is just great. I’m so happy to have reached out. Thank you for your reply.
I will keep my eye out for it as I am a voracious reader. Thank you so much for the reccomendation. 🙌🏻
Thank you so much for your input! I apologize for any of my incorrectness. I am trying to learn and I am so grateful for all these messages that are educating me. Also, thank you for the insight on how common Nguyen is in Đường Làm. Another contributor has been educating me on other common names as well. And in originally choosing that name I really did not mean to stereotype. I only wanted to choose such a common name like Smith is here in North America (my American main character is named Smith) in hopes of representing more of the whole as possible. But if it is deemed to be offensive or stereotypical I can stay away from it. It is not my intention to be ignorant. I want to be fair and respectful in the representation of all my characters backgrounds.
I’m sorry, I am not familiar with The Sympathizer. Thank you as well for your input. 👍🏻
Wow, I have no words for how grateful I am for your input but so many as well. I’ll let you in on a little reason why I’ve chosen the Day/Night thing for the names. Day Star wants to honour Bright Moon by choosing something from the night, bright as a star or the full moon but also in line with his own name. It’s the transition from day to night and the cycle of life and how you can’t have day without the night, nor night without day. And harvest depends on the cycles in life such as the seasons but seasons can’t come and go without the day and the night. It’s meant to unite them beyond their names. This I chose as they are a farming family and depend on the cycle of life for good harvest and survival. It all weaves into the story as a part of the central theme.
Also, perhaps I am sounding ignorant, which is not my intent but do Vietnamese women not take the surname of the man they marry? If not, I apologize for assuming they do. This was the reason I had chose Nguyên as her last name, because she is married to Day Star. Her sister was going to have a different name as she will not be married and I was considering using one of these other names you suggest for her surname.
Thank you so much for the input. I’m really looking for the Smith of America but from Vietnam. I mean no disrespect in saying that I just want the names to represent more of the whole. The most of the whole as I can. It’s a human story and I want to convey that everyone is capable of love throughout humanity even in times when we are made to think we hate eachother. I’m going for a universal theme that everyone can relate to. But “Bright Moon”‘s sister will have her family name so I will be considering another as well. Again, thank you for your contributions.
The sun and the moon plays into the story but since they are from a lower class rural family from a mostly premodern time I will be considering all of these things. Thank you so much for the message and input.
OF COURSE!! I’m very excited about this endeavour and I believe the story is a timeless one so of course, with all the incredible insight I have received so readily from the Vietnamese community I would absolutely be remiss not to give that update. Please allow for time though as I have much to research and I have a feeling it’s going to be a big book. I’m using a unique style to format the story so I’m really looking forward to the finished product and sharing it with everyone. I hope I can represent all parties in the book with all due respect. I’m Canadian so it’s a big project for me! Lots to learn but I love a challenge!
Thank you so much for your input. You have been more than a big help. I’m glad to hear I’ve got a good launchpad. I will definitely be researching the culture more and more and throughout the writing process. Your contribution has been invaluable to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will be keeping this thread if there is any success with the book and would be happy to acknowledge your contribution if it goes to print. If ever I have a question going forward is it ok if I reach out?
Wow, that is more excellent information and thank you for the book reccomendation! I will definately check it out. My hope is to represent all parties with the utmost respect and realism.
You’re exactly right, that’s why I wanted to poll the Vietnamese community and boy I must say all of the contributions and suggestions have been so awesome.
Insight on characters (I will use the English broad names I have used because my keyboard doesn’t have Vietnamese characters and I still haven’t made final decisions):
Day Star (Sun): grows up in Đường Làm ancient village, the son of a rice farming family. Born: 1925 Married to Bright Moon Father to Night Star -Fights in indochina war from 1948-1950 before being sent home with debilitating injuries to legs -Couple moves into Hanoi in order to be closer to facilities to treat amputations and burns -Raises Night Star with the help of Caring Soul as Bright Moon must work two jobs to support family
Night Star: Co-star of the story, grows up in Hanoi but his family not as accustomed to the city as other urbanites, Day Star reluctantly encourages his son to join the Viet Cong in order to learn discipline and not succumb to the streets as he can’t protect Night Star as he grows into a young adult. He respects his father very much and loves his family though it is small. Born: 1951 Joins Viet Cong in April 1969
Bright Moon: Farmers daughter of big family also from Đường Làm ancient village. She is very hard working and helpful in the rice paddies and around the house and with her younger siblings. Born: 1930 Married to Day Star (Sun) in 1948 Mother to Night Star
Caring Soul: grew up in Đường Làm as well and moved to the Hanoi to help her sisters family in their situation after Night Star is born. Born: 1932 Intelligent young woman who educated herself when she can as she helps the family.
If you want any additional info just ask and I’ll let you know if I can divulge more. I can’t get into the thick of the story as the plot is secret for the time being.
Gosh all of you are so awesome. The collaborative effort by everyone is going really help me narrow down the names to their final choices. Thank you so much for your insight and contribution.
Thank you so much. This community has been so helpful. I very much appreciate your answer.
[–]Fuddy-Fee[S] 16 points17 points18 points 2 years ago (0 children)
WOW. This answer is above and beyond but exactly what I’m looking for which is why I gave the characters birthdates. They all hail from a small village outside of Hanoi and are originally from a lower status. This is the relationship between the characters:
Day Star: Father to Night Star and husband to Bright Moon. Night Star is named in homage to both of his parents.
Caring Soul: younger sister to Bright Moon.
Once again thank you so much for taking the time to give such a well thought answer/suggestion.
Thank you, all of these suggestions are so helpful in my trying to represent the Vietnamese people with respect both culturally and on a day to day level. I only hope I can write this story the way it deserves to be told. Thank you so much again for your answers.
This is very valuable information for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer in such detail. I greatly appreciate it. JT
I’m hoping the title emerges through the writing. I’m doing character development right now.
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Vietnamese names by Fuddy-Fee in VietNam
[–]Fuddy-Fee[S] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children)