Demonstrating Respect

Whether they were chosen for us or by us, names are an important part of our identities. Having your name mispronounced can feel like you’re not valued or that you don’t belong. If you’re even in doubt as to how to pronounce someone’s name, ask them!

When we share the pronunciations of our own names, we signal that others are welcome to share theirs – and that we’re committed to putting the effort in to learn them.

Avoiding Assumptions

We sometimes make assumptions about a person’s gender identity based on what we see (clothes, hair, mannerisms, etc.). When we create space to share pronouns, we let others know that we are interested in who they really are – not just what they look like.

Welcoming Diversity

Acorn families come from many different countries and speak many different languages at home. Sharing pronouns and name pronunciations helps people who speak different languages to know who they are connecting with.

For example, many English language speakers may not know how to pronounce the name “Ye eun Koh”. Using “Ye eun Koh, /YAY-oon KOH/ (she/her)” makes the pronunciation and pronouns the person uses clearer.