4.0842 French Naming Law; Names & Death (2/37)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Mon, 17 Dec 90 22:56:22 EST
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 4, No. 0842. Monday, 17 Dec 1990.
(1) Date: Thu, 6 Dec 90 10:02:04 PST (16 lines)
From: tshannon@garnet.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: 4.0818 French Naming Law
(2) Date: Tue, 11 Dec 90 13:37:32 PST (21 lines)
From: DONWEBB@CALSTATE (Donald Webb)
Subject: Name-death & number retirement
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 90 10:02:04 PST
From: tshannon@garnet.berkeley.edu
Subject: Re: 4.0818 French Naming Law (6/115)
I don't know anything about French naming laws, but I thought I'd share
the following info about German naming procedures. When my German wife
and I got married in Cologne in 1978, we received a so-called
"Familienbuch", in which, among other things, there was a list of
approved names for children. Interestingly enough, it included not just
Christian saints' names but also a number of very Germanic ones, like
Wiebke, Frauke, and several that hearken back to the Nibelungenlied. I
don't remember what would have happened if one wanted to choose a name
not on that list, however. [I draw no conclusions regarding national
differences and/or similiarities between the two countries, however!]
tom shannon
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------27----
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 90 13:37:32 PST
From: DONWEBB@CALSTATE (Donald Webb)
Subject: Name-death & number retirement
Dr. Joel Goldfield draws an interesting analogy (i.e. I wish I'd thought
of that!) between the retirement of star athletes' numbers into
"legendary pseudo-death" and the avoidance of a deceased person's name
(HUM 4.0770 Tue 27 Nov 90).
It's true that the numbers are retired from the playing field, but
they're not entirely "avoided," as though taboo. At Candlestick Park
and, as I recall, the Oakland Coliseum, the retired numbers are
prominently displayed. The sole exception is that of John McGraw, whose
name is featured because his career antedates the use of numbers on
players' uniforms.
Why are the names not displayed, rather than or in addition to the
numbers? Probably to sell programs and promote scholarly research and
discussion among the spectators between innings.
Valhalla is on the fence, in deep right field.