Colman McCarthy: Teach Peace

The Making of "Amer"

***WARNING!!! READ FROM BEGINNING TO END!!! NO SCROLLING!! NO SKIMMING!! NO SKIPPING!! SALAMAT!!!***

Lets start with my name Amer. Let's be educational. Below are two questions. Answer them carefully!!!

1.The first thing I want you to do is to determine the etymology behind it. Got it? Good.

2.The second thing I want you to do is pronounce it. Now that you have pronounced it in your head, think of other ways to pronounce "Amer." Now with how however many times you've come up with, keep them in mind.

Now give yourself sometime to recollect your thoughts; and when you're done, scroll down until you see the next section.

(Cue intense thinking theme)

Okay. By now, I assume that you have answered the first two questions. Here are the answers.

1. Etymology. Amer is an acronym. It is the name of my four grandfathers. Want to know their names? Alfredo Mariano Estanislao Rafael. Notice I highlighted the first letters of their names. Yup, that is what Amer stands for. Crazy huh? would you have thought about that?

Over time I received several comments about my name. One of these comments is that it relates to the Arabic word "Emir" (Note: there are multiple ways to write this, I will keep it as this for now). Emir means commander or prince. When I first learned of that meaning, I was surprised. When sharing the history of my name with one of my friends, he called me Amir al-Juntado. Royalty!!!! Haha......

Another is that it comes from "America." How patriotic, and this is probably the easiest connection most have made. It has lasted longer than the previous one, but I guess it has to deal with what people see first. They see "Amer," then they assumed America.

2. Pronunciation.

You ready for this? Pronounce this:

ĀMER

Syllable by syllable now:

Ā. This means that you use the long pronunciation of the letter. Otherwise, think of it as A as in "A B C D," or just say it as you would say the alphabet.

"MER." mer like myrrh, or as in Bert. You say the "er" as you would in Turner or Warner.

If you couldn't get these steps, try this: "AIMER." More emphasis on the "a". This is the part where people mess up more. If you know French and know what aimer means, my name is almost similar to that, but isn't said the same. Think of the word for sea, mer, when pronouncing the second half of my name.

Put them together, and you get Amer. Get it? If not, meet me one day and I will pronounce it for you. That is the case for almost everyone I've met who have seen my name before meeting me and trying to pronounce it. There are multiple ways to do so that I have lost count.

So this is a brief background of my name. Now you know the etymology; but as far as saying my name, if it is a challenge, hearing it by ear will make it easier.

Until next time,

-Amer