Japanese Names
Japanese Names
I know that this is an oddly specific question for a whole thread, but for Japanese Names, which part of the name can be given as the correct answer? Is the name generally expressed with the given name first and surname second? For example, could I give "Basho" for Matsuo Basho?
Ted Barrett
Moorestown Friends '12
"I'm a big believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it"
Moorestown Friends '12
"I'm a big believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it"
- Frater Taciturnus
- Auron
- Posts: 2463
- Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:26 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
Re: Japanese Names
In Japanese, order does not matter, but family vs given name is still important. Despite his family name being Matsuo, my understanding is that Basho is still correct because it the name he wrote under. When in doubt, give the family name.Ted wrote:I know that this is an oddly specific question for a whole thread, but for Japanese Names, which part of the name can be given as the correct answer? Is the name generally expressed with the given name first and surname second? For example, could I give "Basho" for Matsuo Basho?
Janet Berry
[email protected]
she/they
--------------
J. Sargeant Reynolds CC 2008, 2009, 2014
Virginia Commonwealth 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
Douglas Freeman 2005, 2006, 2007
[email protected]
she/they
--------------
J. Sargeant Reynolds CC 2008, 2009, 2014
Virginia Commonwealth 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
Douglas Freeman 2005, 2006, 2007
- at your pleasure
- Auron
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:56 pm
Re: Japanese Names
Or just give both given and family names.
Douglas Graebner, Walt Whitman HS 10, Uchicago 14
"... imagination acts upon man as really as does gravitation, and may kill him as certainly as a dose of prussic acid."-Sir James Frazer,The Golden Bough
http://avorticistking.wordpress.com/
"... imagination acts upon man as really as does gravitation, and may kill him as certainly as a dose of prussic acid."-Sir James Frazer,The Golden Bough
http://avorticistking.wordpress.com/
- Down and out in Quintana Roo
- Auron
- Posts: 2907
- Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:25 am
- Location: Camden, DE
- Contact:
Re: Japanese Names
But for an inexperienced or novice player trying to learn clues/answers, it can be difficult to remember ANY names, let alone a Japanese name they've never seen before. They shouldn't have to say Junichiro Tanizaki if just "Tanazaki" is acceptable, especially if they're confident on that first name and might end up switching up consonants or something. I can't tell you how many times in practice i've had to say "incorrect" for my freshmen and sophomores who just don't know how to pronounce a name and end up switching the order or a couple letters. We shouldn't be finding ways to make answers wrong, we should be finding more ways to make them right. Answers, especially difficult ones of foreign names, should except all responses that indicate a clear knowledge.
Mr. Andrew Chrzanowski
Caesar Rodney High School
Camden, Delaware
CRHS '97-'01
University of Delaware '01-'05
CRHS quizbowl coach '06-'12
http://crquizbowl.edublogs.org
Caesar Rodney High School
Camden, Delaware
CRHS '97-'01
University of Delaware '01-'05
CRHS quizbowl coach '06-'12
http://crquizbowl.edublogs.org
Re: Japanese Names
From what I learned from anime, you're supposed to refer to people by their last name unless you're really familiar with them. So I guess you should refer to them by surname only or surname then given name (as per Eastern tradition) or given name then surname (as per Western tradition), but I don't think just given name should be accepted.
Kay, Chicago.
- Wall of Ham
- Rikku
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:28 am
Re: Japanese Names
Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
Barry
Cornell
Cornell
Re: Japanese Names
I agree. Saying "Junichiro" instead of "Tanizaki" doesn't indicate a lack of knowledge on the topic matter. Unless there comes a prominent author whose last name is Junichiro, in which case it becomes interesting...Wall of Ham wrote:Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
Tanay
ex-Berkeley, ex-Bellarmine
ex-Berkeley, ex-Bellarmine
- Down and out in Quintana Roo
- Auron
- Posts: 2907
- Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:25 am
- Location: Camden, DE
- Contact:
Re: Japanese Names
I'mma just stop you there, hm?Arsonists Get All the Girls wrote:From what I learned from anime...
Mr. Andrew Chrzanowski
Caesar Rodney High School
Camden, Delaware
CRHS '97-'01
University of Delaware '01-'05
CRHS quizbowl coach '06-'12
http://crquizbowl.edublogs.org
Caesar Rodney High School
Camden, Delaware
CRHS '97-'01
University of Delaware '01-'05
CRHS quizbowl coach '06-'12
http://crquizbowl.edublogs.org
- Not That Kind of Christian!!
- Yuna
- Posts: 847
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:36 pm
- Location: Manhattan
Re: Japanese Names
First names are usually promptable for anyone, no matter the ethnicity.Wall of Ham wrote:Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
Hannah Kirsch
Brandeis University 2010
NYU School of Medicine 2014
"Wow, those Scandinavians completely thorbjorned my hard-earned political capital."
Brandeis University 2010
NYU School of Medicine 2014
"Wow, those Scandinavians completely thorbjorned my hard-earned political capital."
- Boeing X-20, Please!
- Rikku
- Posts: 406
- Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:40 pm
- Location: Evanston, IL
Re: Japanese Names
But wouldn't this mean if somebody had two first names (i.e. Dylan Thomas) and you couldn't remember which order they were in you could just say one of them and thus automatically get it right after being prompted on Dylan or having Thomas accepted?Not That Kind of Christian!! wrote:First names are usually promptable for anyone, no matter the ethnicity.Wall of Ham wrote:Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
Nolan Winkler
Loyola Academy '12
UChicago '16
Loyola Academy '12
UChicago '16
-
- Wakka
- Posts: 209
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:41 am
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Japanese Names
That's my understanding of it. Sometimes Japanese authors adopt pseudonyms as given names and retain their surnames. Often, those authors are referred to by those pseudonyms almost exclusively, so giving those is acceptable. But giving authors' birth surnames is also acceptable, since that's standard practice in quizbowl. Say Matsuo or Basho, just don't say his given name, Kinsaku. (There's also the one-off pseudonym Soubou.) A similar example that's tripped up some editors in the past is Natsume Souseki, who was born Natsume Kinnosuke. Souseki and Natsume are acceptable answers; Kinnosuke is not. Souseki's case is especially tricky because Natsume is occasionally used as a given name in modern Japan.Frater Taciturnus wrote:In Japanese, order does not matter, but family vs given name is still important. Despite his family name being Matsuo, my understanding is that Basho is still correct because it the name he wrote under. When in doubt, give the family name.Ted wrote:I know that this is an oddly specific question for a whole thread, but for Japanese Names, which part of the name can be given as the correct answer? Is the name generally expressed with the given name first and surname second? For example, could I give "Basho" for Matsuo Basho?
Another slightly confusing aspect is archaic noble names, often with "no", like the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo or the poet Ki no Tsurayuki. Honorary names like Minamoto are, as far as I can discern, roughly analogous to noble titles like "Duke of York." In both cases, the titles are usually prompted by themselves, just because multiple famous people usually had them. So providing the full name (or just the given name, if the title has already been provided) is usually a good strategy for the famous noblemen with really famous titles. On the other hand, if there were ever a bonus part on Ki no Tsurayuki (hey, ACF Regionals had a bonus part on the Tosa Diary back in 2000!), I'd be inclined to accept either name, as I believe he's by far the most famous Ki. (He's usually just called Tsurayuki, though.)
Quinn James
Furman University '10
Furman University '10
Re: Japanese Names
...Arsonists Get All the Girls wrote:From what I learned from anime...
- jonpin
- Auron
- Posts: 2266
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:45 pm
- Location: BCA NJ / WUSTL MO / Hackensack NJ
Re: Japanese Names
I'm not familiar with first names being promptable in general, but your example is poor. I'm pretty sure you can provide "last name, first name". For instance, if I said Clinton, Bill, it would be acceptable. So you could say the two names in either order and likely get it accepted as "Dylan Thomas" or "Thomas, Dylan".Extinction threshold wrote:But wouldn't this mean if somebody had two first names (i.e. Dylan Thomas) and you couldn't remember which order they were in you could just say one of them and thus automatically get it right after being prompted on Dylan or having Thomas accepted?Not That Kind of Christian!! wrote:First names are usually promptable for anyone, no matter the ethnicity.Wall of Ham wrote:Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
Jon Pinyan
Coach, Bergen County Academies (NJ); former player for BCA (2000-03) and WUSTL (2003-07)
HSQB forum mod, PACE member
Stat director for: NSC '13-'15, '17; ACF '14, '17, '19; NHBB '13-'15; NASAT '11
"A [...] wizard who controls the weather" - Jerry Vinokurov
Coach, Bergen County Academies (NJ); former player for BCA (2000-03) and WUSTL (2003-07)
HSQB forum mod, PACE member
Stat director for: NSC '13-'15, '17; ACF '14, '17, '19; NHBB '13-'15; NASAT '11
"A [...] wizard who controls the weather" - Jerry Vinokurov
- Wall of Ham
- Rikku
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:28 am
Re: Japanese Names
This is what I originally thought, but many times I've only given the first name and yet was ruled incorrect without prompting. I thought there was a NAQT or ACF rule about this, but looking them over I can't find anything.Not That Kind of Christian!! wrote:First names are usually promptable for anyone, no matter the ethnicity.Wall of Ham wrote:Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
Barry
Cornell
Cornell
- Mechanical Beasts
- Banned Cheater
- Posts: 5673
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:50 pm
Re: Japanese Names
Moderators sometimes do this, which probably led to this perception--but I don't think it actually is what is supposed to happen.Not That Kind of Christian!! wrote:First names are usually promptable for anyone, no matter the ethnicity.Wall of Ham wrote:Perhaps, due to the naming system and the fact that sometimes either order is used for Asian names, the first name should be promptable?
ACF Rules wrote: 4. For names from cultures in which the family name precedes the given name, such as
Chinese or Japanese names, the family name is necessary to receive credit for a correct
response. The player can give either the native order of naming, with family name first, or
the Anglicized order, with family name last, as an acceptable answer. An answer of the
given name only will not be accepted or prompted, unless the person is widely known by
a pseudonym consisting of his given name, which is acceptable under rule G.16.
Andrew Watkins
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Japanese Names
Yeah, I'm not aware of any set of rules that gives a prompt on someone's personal name, unless they're widely known by that name or something. I don't know where people got that idea.
MaS
MaS
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
- Wall of Ham
- Rikku
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:28 am
Re: Japanese Names
In theory though, isn't the given name a partial answer that's ambivalent and needs prompting? If a person says the first name, even if the answer is not commonly know by that name, it still reflects some knowledge of the answer. Prompting the first name is reducing a field of people with that name to the specific answer desired, similar to prompting on the answer of last name Bacon.Captain Sinico wrote:Yeah, I'm not aware of any set of rules that gives a prompt on someone's personal name, unless they're widely known by that name or something. I don't know where people got that idea.
MaS
But then again, I suppose I see the need for this rule. If a player gives Sinclair as an answer, does he mean Upton Sinclair or Sinclair Lewis, two people, due to their similar professions, often confused (especially by me). Eliminating the answer of the first name eliminates the possiblity a player answering Sinclair and knowing he'd either be accepted or prompted without any true knowledge of the difference between the two.
Barry
Cornell
Cornell
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Japanese Names
No.
MaS
MaS
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Re: Japanese Names
Sorice and I squared off in a long-ago debate about whether first names should be promptable when it's not clear which one is the family name. I was of the mind that people can know a lot about Mao without knowing that his family name is "Mao" and not "Zedong," but I've come around. If you don't know what the person's actual name is, sorry, you don't get points. Take it as a learning lesson. The only time I can see generously prompting is if the audience is so overwhelmingly composed of new players with fragile attitudes who might be scared off if they are punished for not knowing someone's name correctly. But unless you're running a middle school or high school novice set, people who don't know enough to get points should not get points.
Also, I should add, people who are known by their first names are the exceptions to this rule.
Also, I should add, people who are known by their first names are the exceptions to this rule.
Andrew Hart
Minnesota alum
Minnesota alum
- Wall of Ham
- Rikku
- Posts: 420
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:28 am
Re: Japanese Names
Thank you, having not really heard this debate before, this reasoning makes a lot more sense than:theMoMA wrote:Sorice and I squared off in a long-ago debate about whether first names should be promptable when it's not clear which one is the family name. I was of the mind that people can know a lot about Mao without knowing that his family name is "Mao" and not "Zedong," but I've come around. If you don't know what the person's actual name is, sorry, you don't get points. Take it as a learning lesson. The only time I can see generously prompting is if the audience is so overwhelmingly composed of new players with fragile attitudes who might be scared off if they are punished for not knowing someone's name correctly. But unless you're running a middle school or high school novice set, people who don't know enough to get points should not get points.
Also, I should add, people who are known by their first names are the exceptions to this rule.
Captain Sinico wrote:No.
MaS
Barry
Cornell
Cornell
Re: Japanese Names
One rule I don't quite understand is why for many Chinese names, the answer line often only contains the last name.
For example, at ACF Fall, there was a bonus part on Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Chin-kuo.
The example I gave isn't an isolated case either. Similar stuff happens for Liu Shaoqi, Lin Biao, Zhou Enlai, and others in various packets throughout the year. The one exception I can think of for this is Mao, since that is what he is known as in the West and sometimes even in China.
For example, at ACF Fall, there was a bonus part on Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Chin-kuo.
Only Chiang is underlined, even though that doesn't differentiate him from his father. I still managed to get 10 points on this even though I had no idea about his first name. This seems like an obvious loophole.[10] This president of Taiwan succeeded his father as chairman of the Kuomintang in 1975 and allowed opposition parties to form. He met his Belarusian wife Faina as a student in Moscow.
ANSWER: Chiang Ching-kuo [or Jiang Jingguo; do not accept “Chiang Kai-shek” or “Jiang Jieshi”]
The example I gave isn't an isolated case either. Similar stuff happens for Liu Shaoqi, Lin Biao, Zhou Enlai, and others in various packets throughout the year. The one exception I can think of for this is Mao, since that is what he is known as in the West and sometimes even in China.
Libo
Washington '14, Michigan '13, Troy High School '09
Washington '14, Michigan '13, Troy High School '09
- ... and the chaos of Mexican modernity
- Rikku
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:30 pm
- Location: Orlando, Fl
Re: Japanese Names
For Japanese it can be said that prompting can also come in with historical figures. For example prompting on Toyotomi for a tu for Hideyoshi because Hideyori Toyotomi is just as notable at a college and to a lesser extent at a high school level. I though believe that when it comes down to it, something like Tokugawa, Ashikaga, or Taira can be accepted despite some other figures by that family name (Hidetada, Yoshitsune, Kiyomori). Though I guess it does raise a good question with family names being prompted.
Zach Foster
North Myrtle Beach High School class of 2009
George Mason University class of 2013
North Myrtle Beach High School class of 2009
George Mason University class of 2013
- jonpin
- Auron
- Posts: 2266
- Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:45 pm
- Location: BCA NJ / WUSTL MO / Hackensack NJ
Re: Japanese Names
Well you were saying that first names are always promptable, which has never been true. If there's a tossup on a basketball player and I buzz in and say "Michael", that's just not acceptable.Wall of Ham wrote:Thank you, having not really heard this debate before, this reasoning makes a lot more sense than:
Captain Sinico wrote:No.
MaS
NAQT correctness guidelines C3: First names are rarely acceptable or promptable, except where they coincide with regnal names. Among the exceptions to this rule are figures like Galileo, Raphael, and Dante who lived in eras when the use of surnames was less well established.
Jon Pinyan
Coach, Bergen County Academies (NJ); former player for BCA (2000-03) and WUSTL (2003-07)
HSQB forum mod, PACE member
Stat director for: NSC '13-'15, '17; ACF '14, '17, '19; NHBB '13-'15; NASAT '11
"A [...] wizard who controls the weather" - Jerry Vinokurov
Coach, Bergen County Academies (NJ); former player for BCA (2000-03) and WUSTL (2003-07)
HSQB forum mod, PACE member
Stat director for: NSC '13-'15, '17; ACF '14, '17, '19; NHBB '13-'15; NASAT '11
"A [...] wizard who controls the weather" - Jerry Vinokurov
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Japanese Names
"How dare you answer my yes-or-no question directly and promptly!" Well played, sir. If you want to know my reasoning, please ask next time.Wall of Ham wrote:Thank you, having not really heard this debate before, this reasoning makes a lot more sense than:
Captain Sinico wrote:No.
MaS
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
Re: Japanese Names
Japanese and Chinese (and Hungarian and Javanese and any other relevant naming scheme) names should be treated the same as other names. For example, the point is absolutely right that, under any sensible system of answer accepting, that execrable question on Chiang Kai-shek's son should have prompted (only) on Chaing, but that seems more a matter of the mis-underlining endemic to quizbowl, probably resulting in this case from a knowing stretch of the underlining rules due to someone wanting to boost conversion of their question on Chiang Kai-shek's son, than it is any problem with Chinese names per se. All Zach's stuff about Japanese dudes doesn't make much sense to me. The rules you should go by are simple: if someone is generally known by their personal name, that should be acceptable; otherwise, not. If there are other potentially conflatable people referred to by the same name, you should prompt on it.
I think Andrew has made the best point here. Coaches should consider this a teachable moment. Tell your players, as I tell our new players when necessary: "Some cultures usually place the family name first and this person comes from one, so you've got to be aware of that." I don't think there's some kind of shortcut to figuring out which name is which outside of being aware of that; conversely, I am sure that it would be wrong to change the rules regarding what's acceptable to suit that lack of learning.
MaS
I think Andrew has made the best point here. Coaches should consider this a teachable moment. Tell your players, as I tell our new players when necessary: "Some cultures usually place the family name first and this person comes from one, so you've got to be aware of that." I don't think there's some kind of shortcut to figuring out which name is which outside of being aware of that; conversely, I am sure that it would be wrong to change the rules regarding what's acceptable to suit that lack of learning.
MaS
Mike Sorice
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Former Coach, Centennial High School of Champaign, IL (2014-2020) & Team Illinois (2016-2018)
Alumnus, Illinois ABT (2000-2002; 2003-2009) & Fenwick Scholastic Bowl (1999-2000)
Member, ACF (Emeritus), IHSSBCA, & PACE
Re: Japanese Names
Wow, thanks a lot! I'm surprised at the number of people who responded
Ted Barrett
Moorestown Friends '12
"I'm a big believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it"
Moorestown Friends '12
"I'm a big believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it"
Re: Japanese Names
I have some examples to demonstrate that terrible underlining is endemic for Chinese questions:Captain Sinico wrote:Japanese and Chinese (and Hungarian and Javanese and any other relevant naming scheme) names should be treated the same as other names. For example, the point is absolutely right that, under any sensible system of answer accepting, that execrable question on Chiang Kai-shek's son should have prompted (only) on Chaing, but that seems more a matter of the mis-underlining endemic to quizbowl, probably resulting in this case from a knowing stretch of the underlining rules due to someone wanting to boost conversion of their question on Chiang Kai-shek's son, than it is any problem with Chinese names per se. All Zach's stuff about Japanese dudes doesn't make much sense to me. The rules you should go by are simple: if someone is generally known by their personal name, that should be acceptable; otherwise, not. If there are other potentially conflatable people referred to by the same name, you should prompt on it.
MaS
The underlining of just Liu is horrible since the whole Han dynasty had the last name Liu. That's like asking a question about James I and accepting Stuart2008 Cardinal Classic wrote:Answer: Han Wudi [or Han Wu Ti, or Emperor Wu of Han, or Xioa Wu, or Liu Che, or Shizong, or Tong]
2008 July Crisis wrote:Answer: Liu Bang
Like Wudi, the whole dynasty was named Liu.
The problem here is that if you just Wu, it could clearly also be Wu of Han from earlier.2009 ACF Nationals wrote:Answer: Empress Wu Zetian
ACF Regionals 2008 wrote:Answer: Liu Xiang
This one is clearly underlining the first name instead of the last name, inexplicably.
Underlining first name instead of last.2008 IO wrote:Answer: Zhou Enlai
I'm not so sure this is that bad because it's equivalent of confusing John Adams the founder of America with John Adams the composer by just saying Adams. However, the possibility exists that some poor person could confuse the Liu here with that of the Han Dynasty.2008 Chicago Open wrote:Answer: Liu Shaoqi
There's a bunch more, but I don't feel like typing them up again
Libo
Washington '14, Michigan '13, Troy High School '09
Washington '14, Michigan '13, Troy High School '09
- Skepticism and Animal Feed
- Auron
- Posts: 3238
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:47 pm
- Location: Arlington, VA
Re: Japanese Names
I have an incredibly difficult time memorizing names from foreign cultures, especially China. The fact that the family name comes first makes things even worse.
I often find that it helps me to memorize title + family name. For instance "Chairman Mao" is easier to memorize than Mao Tse-Tung, "Chancellor Li" is easier to memorize than Li Si, "Lord Shang" is easier to memorize than "Shang Yang", etc. Nobody is going to mistake "Chairman", "Chancellor", or "Lord" for a Chinese family name, so this ensures that the one name you memorize is the one that will get you ten points.
I often find that it helps me to memorize title + family name. For instance "Chairman Mao" is easier to memorize than Mao Tse-Tung, "Chancellor Li" is easier to memorize than Li Si, "Lord Shang" is easier to memorize than "Shang Yang", etc. Nobody is going to mistake "Chairman", "Chancellor", or "Lord" for a Chinese family name, so this ensures that the one name you memorize is the one that will get you ten points.
Bruce
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source
Harvard '10 / UChicago '07 / Roycemore School '04
ACF Member emeritus
My guide to using Wikipedia as a question source