1. What about you?
Think about these questions. Prepare answers and post them in the Forum. Read and respond to the answers of your classmates.
1. What are common names where you come from? In my country there are different common names… for example Garcia, Martinez, Rodriguez, Gonzalez.
2. Is your family name common? Not, it isn’t. My family name is not very common.
3. Does your family name tell you anything about your family (e.g., where you come from)? Not, I think it doesn’t.
4. Some English names refer to trades or professions, such as Butcher or Baker. Does your name mean anything? Are there any names in your country that do? I suppose that some Spanish names refer to trades or professions as well. I do not know if my name means anything. Anyway there are Spanish names that has got some meaning. For example: Caballero means polite, Guerrero means warrior and Gonzales means son of Gonzalo.
5. Are any names from other countries popular in your country? Which ones? There are not very common names from other countries. Bequer, Voix, Dalmau. Some of them have got French influences.
6. In your country when you meet someone for the first time, what name do you use? How do you know when you can use their first name? In Spain we usually use the name in not formal situations. In formal situations we use the surname.
7. In your country do you ever use surnames without a title (e.g., Mrs or Mr)? When could you do this? Why would you do it? Yes, We do. In very formal situation we use Sr/a. It means polite behaviour and also distance.
8. There are common pet names in English that show affection, such as honey, darling or pet. What words are used in your language? Yes, they are. We use words like cariño, cielo, corazón.