A 2022 study has unveiled the subtle yet significant impact of name pronunciation on employment outcomes. Researchers examined over 1,500 job applicants from 96 economics PhD programs in the United States. The findings revealed that candidates with difficult-to-pronounce names were less likely to secure their first academic position, and when they did, these positions often came from institutions with lower research standards. This study has ignited a broader conversation about the lingering effects of colonialism on today's job market.
Names hold more than just personal identity; they reflect cultural heritage and history. Take Jamaica, for instance. The Taino people, the island's early inhabitants, called it "Xaymaca," meaning "land of wood and water." However, through mispronunciation by Spanish and later English colonists, "Xaymaca" evolved into the "Jamaica" we know today.
"It's Xaymaca [zy-ma-ka], sir."
This historical mispronunciation echoes the present-day challenges faced by individuals with names that do not conform to Western phonetics. People of Nigerian descent in Britain, for example, must send 80% more job applications than their white counterparts to receive a positive response from employers. This statistic underscores the systemic barriers faced by those with ethnic names.
The author's own experience resonates with this narrative. Their Yoruba surname, Awoyungbo, presents a challenge in pronunciation that may adversely affect their life and finances. Despite having a first name with the same number of letters as "Charles" and the same number of syllables as "Benjamin," mispronunciations often lead to awkward interactions. This is not an isolated issue; names like Ronaldinho, Beyoncé, and Tchaikovsky also pose pronunciation challenges yet are recognized globally.
Prominent figures have sometimes altered their names to navigate these obstacles. Actor Kal Penn changed his name from Kalpen Modi to improve its pronunciation ease. Similarly, Mindy Kaling shortened her Tamil surname, Chokalingam, due to emcees struggling with its pronunciation at comedy gigs.
"It's bittersweet," she said in 2020, "but I have to say, it was such a help to my career to have a name that people could pronounce."
These stories highlight the complex interplay between identity and professional success. The author believes that a difficult-to-pronounce name has negatively impacted their career. This perception is not unfounded, given the study's findings and personal anecdotes illustrating how names can influence opportunities.