LAUSR

Abstract This paper examines the impact and consequences on college students in the United States whose names are Americanized (‘Americanization’ is used throughout this paper to apply only to residents of the United States and has two possible meanings: within the US, it refers to acculturation of immigrants, whereas internationally it refers to the influence of the US on other countries. Our paper uses ‘Americanization’ as a description of acculturation. The process of ‘Westernization’ might be applicable to citizens outside of the United States.) because they are deemed foreign, difficult, and inferior. Our research also examines the difficulties that educators often have with the correct pronunciation of names. Through an exercise designed to teach and learn the correct pronunciation of names, we examine the responses of college students who describe their experiences with teachers and peers with the incorrect pronunciation of their family names and the renaming that occurred. This renaming reinforces the Americanized paradigm of privilege and power.