Meh

[heleentje]

Sometimes I wonder why my nickname is still Heleentje if everyone calls me Heleen anyway. 

Not that I mind, though, it IS my name after all. But when I come across conversations in which random strangers I have never talked to in my life (as far as I know)  refer to me by my given name, it kinda weirds me out.

No, not telling what brought this on.

I know Heleentje is nigh unpronounceable for most, that is why I tell people I often talk to to just call me Heleen (heck, short of sending people a voice file with me pronouncing it, I myself do not know how to explain the pronunciation). But it is my nickname. It has been my nickname for over seven years. People I have talked to can call me Heleen all they want, but I draw the line at strangers.

I guess I just feel like my privacy is being breached somehow. Even though I have none to begin with.

Oh well, since this entry might as well contain something more than me angsting and since I cannot pass up the opportunity anyway: help_haiti ! The list of Yu-Gi-Oh offers can still be found here.

Comments

[marauderraine.livejournal.com]

:S Nothing like some good promotion, eh?

In my mind, Heleentje sounds like "Heleen t-g-e". Even though it's a 'j', I imagine it as a 'g'. :P

Don't think about it too much. Thinking just kind of screws with the way the world works. v.v

[heleentje.livejournal.com]

I know I shouldn't worry too much about it, but names intrigue me, and I want to be called by the name of my choice (i.e. know me: Heleen, don't know me: Heleentje). I'm not even difficult about it. If you've talked to me once about something that isn't strictly business, it's okay.

The closest approximation for the correct pronunciation I can give you is 'Heh-lain-t-y-uh'. The big problem is the 'tj' diphthong, which often gets slurred, and the three different 'e' pronunciations.

Eh, I'll just deal with it, I suppose ^^

[marauderraine.livejournal.com]

XP

Stop making my brain hurt so early in the morning.

:) But, okay.

[jesskat.livejournal.com]

An easier tip for pronunciation: "Hell-ain't-ya".

[heleentje.livejournal.com]

See, this is why I don't make up pronunciation guides. Someone is bound to be much better at it than me ;)

[marauderraine.livejournal.com]

:D Thanks

[jesskat.livejournal.com]

I guess maybe for some people "Heleentje" sounds too informal? My boyfriend's name is Chris and if people called him Chrisje, it would just sound like they were talking down to him. If I didn't know you, I might call you Heleen as well just because Heleentje sounds informal to me. Maybe it's different in Belgium.

[heleentje.livejournal.com]

Really funny story actually. In real life, only two people are allowed to call me Heleentje exactly because of what you said. But on the internet, it's a way of distancing myself (and besides Dutch-speaking people, most people don't know it's a dimunitive/informal form of my name unless I tell them).

So the basic rundown is:

Real Life: Heleen and Heleentje only in very few cases
Internet: Heleentje and only Heleen if you know me

Heh, I'm probably just being confusing and anal about this anyway ^^;

[jesskat.livejournal.com]

Heh, I kinda get what you mean. It weirds me out if people on the internet call me Jessica instead of JessKat or Jess. It's not a big deal, it just sounds more serious when people address me by my full name.