Unit 1 names

[Miquel Figarola]

I come from Girona, a very friendly, nice city located in Catalonia. Where I live the most common names are Jordi, Maria, Joan and Josep. My name, Miquel, was very used twenty or thirty years ago, but now, seems to be recuperated as I see a lot of children named as i am. My surmane, which is Figarola, is common, but writed in a different way, Figuerola. This causes me lots of problems when someone has to write it. There is a town called Figuerola d'Orcau near Lleida, that I suppose can be related to my surname. I think it means a group of fig trees and someone some years ago wrote it different and it has evolutioned in that way. In fact, some relatives have changed their surname. I asked my grandfather and he said his grandfather was used to write like we do and because of this I didn't wanted to change it. Where I live if you meet someone in a formal way we use both name and surname and of course with a title to domnstrete respect (e.g, Dr or Mr). If you are presented to someone in an informal conversation, then, your name is used. In our language you can use lots of words to show affection, some inspired in sweets and some inspired in pets.