Names, Names, Names... Are Looking For a Goodtime

[dotinthesky]

I like the way the English say my name: Oh-lee-vah. The Scottish, in the meantime, say Oh-lah-vah. And the Brazilians say Oh-lee-verre (when they say my name correctly at all.) My grandmother, still to this day, eventhough I am her first-born grandchild, cannot say my name correctly. It's Oh-lee-vee or Oh-lee-veh.

Actually, Brazilians who do not speak English don't know how to say my name. I've been called Oliveira, Olivio, Oscar and so on throughout my years in Brazil.

But, despite this most English of names, people who meet me for the first time always assume I'm from a variety of nationalities. I've been confused with Americans, Canadians, French, Quebecois, Israelis, and even - specifically enough - with Glaswegians! Nobody ever guesses that I'm half-brazilian (probably because of my lily-white ass and my green eyes.)

So, here's a little poll which I'm very curious about:

[Poll #403073]


This may sound like a highly narcissistic post - and I guess it is - but, really, I just want to get a general consensus on this. Thanks for participating.

Comments

you're liking this whole poll thing, aren't you? ;p

[moonlightjoy.livejournal.com]

whee! I think I was closest to right. sorta.

and now I want to hear you speak on the phone.

and i want you to come down to montreal!!! urgh. but speak to you on the phone first cuz the accent might get muddled once you set foot in this here messed up but wonderful city.


and the other thing i wanted to say is that Oh-lee-verre is supahsexy. and i think i'm going to call you that in my head from now on.

[canudiglett]

Why do you have such an english sounding name when you a Foreign? I keep meaning to ask this?

[meemeedarling.livejournal.com]

Ollie-Ver!

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I once heard that Portuguese (Brazilian) sounds like a drunk Frenchman trying to speak Spanish.

Polish:

[i-am-scowling.livejournal.com]

Olee-vyer


[accent stressed on first syllable] I dig on that one :)

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know, you just sound kind of ... "continental".
If anything, on occasion you sound vaguely scandinavian, dare I say... (There, it's more about the cadence you sometimes have than any dipthongal concern. To my ear, especially when you're trying to clarify an idea, there's a tonal arc, a very slow rise and fall, ending in a decisive, level tone. This all speeds up when you're teasing someone.)

Sometimes there's something "British" there -- on occasion, I hear "r[iiae]lly" from you, vs. the Canadian "r[ee]lly". Other times your vowels flatten into the Canadian thing that's been noticed, but maybe this is just when you're talking to me or K, or just goofing around...

I couldn't figure out how to use your poll, so those are my two cents.

(I know what you mean, about feeling sort of "fill in the blank". People impute ethnicities to me all the time. Persian, French, Israeli, Italian, Greek, Spanish... It's amusing, kind of neat to have people claim an undeserved familiarity!)

lala

[cherrieheart.livejournal.com]

I've never spoken to you, so I'd have no idea. But, I just wanted to add that I get questions about my cultural background all the time, mainly when I speak french...and honestly, i find it kind of annoying. Do you find that annoying? Maybe I'm the only one. I don't know. It's just weird to ask a stranger "what they are."

[dawnkitten.livejournal.com]

Oliver's a cool name ...and I'll be pleased -nay- delighted to find out what your accent sounds like at some point :)
At least you get a decent shortening too ...Olly ...whereas my nickname ends up being longer than my actual name *rolls eyes*
Though I do kinda like the fact my name's translatable ...and the way an American friend says my nickname makes my skin tingle -which is much fun ;)

(Ooooh... green eyes and an accent too *grins*)

[divineheadrush.livejournal.com]

hmmm.. i never figured you for lilly white with green eyes since you had mentioned your brazilian-ness. :P although there are plenty that are. now I must see what you actually look like!

oh i'm going back to that thingy to type in my imagined accent of yours! ;)