"Hi. I am Liao Liang. But, you can call me Lorraine. That is my English name."
This is how 25-year-old Liao, a broadcast journalist working for Beijing-based China Radio International (CRI) introduces herself to people who are not native to China.
But, she is not the only one who has a "bilingual identity" as people across the country have adopted English monikers to "ease cross-cultural connectivity".
"Chinese names are difficult to pronounce, remember and write. And, so, besides our Chinese names, we also keep an English name for ourselves, and use it especially while meeting people from other countries, especially during business meeting and other professional interactions," Liao said.
English is an important international language and such English names are a key for the native Chinese people to connect to that global world in the information age, as language sometimes becomes a barrier to communication, she said.
The English names, unlike their Chinese (traditional) names, which are given by their parents, are assumed by a person as per his or her wish. While some choose to keep a name that sounds similar to their traditional one, others also use more colourful names like Coco, Snow, Summer, Autumn, Smile, among others.
So, Cui Yung Yang, 23, a student at the Shandong University in capital Jinan in the eastern province of Shandong, goes by the name of 'Smile', while Song Yu Rong, who works at a hotel in Jinan calls herself 'Flora'.
Linghu Xia Yuan and Meng Naizhen who are associated with the Beijing-based All-China Youth Federation use 'Summer' and 'Molly' respectively.
"I chose the name Smile, because I liked the word. People (non-Chinese) would find it difficult to pronounce my name. At the university, we meet people from different countries. Also, English names give us better connectivity with people. But, we are equally proud of our Chinese names too," Cui said.
Jinan-based young tourist guide Su Wen Qi, who recently accompanied an Indian Youth Delegation in Shandong's capital, said, "I allow people to address me with whichever of the name they are more comfortable with. I majored in English literature at a university. And, my English name has been Viviene Su or just Viviene.
"I meet and conduct guided tours for people from so many different countries and cultures. Having an English name also helps in my profession. Besides, one doesn't have to spend time teaching people the right pronunciation of the Chinese name," Su said.
