On May 15 2014, I gained a new nick name, courtesy of a Kogarah medical specialist. He awarded me this nickname in front of an ex- St George Girls High school captain, Giselle and her mother, in the waiting room at his surgery .He said to Giselle “You can speak with Miss Hoity Toity later. “We all looked at each other in a surprised manner …….
Upon checking the meaning of hoity toity, I found that its first known use was in 1668. It is a rhyming compound from English dialect hoit “to play the fool “.
It can be defined as “having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter or more important than other people . “
The doctor, a man of dry wit and a casual manner, and I, have known each other over the past 5 years. I am not offended by him giving me my new nickname.
However, I am not certain as to why the doctor has given me this nick name. Nicknames are awarded to the person and not chosen by the recipient. As I asked this question of myself, I then began to reflect on the many nicknames I have been given, as well as the nicknames I have given to others. Before doing this, it is valuable to consider the historical background to nicknames.
Wikipedia tells us that a nickname is a name added to or substituted for the proper name of a person, place etc as in ridicule, affection or familiarity. “A nickname is often considered desirable, symbolising a form of acceptance, but can sometimes be a form of ridicule.
In Viking societies many people had nicknames, which were used in addition to or instead of their family names. In Anglo –American culture, a nickname is often based on a shortening of a person’s proper name. In Australian society, Australian men will often give ironic nicknames. For example a man with red hair will be given the nickname ‘Blue” or “Bluey” A tall man will be called “Shorty.”
In England, some nicknames are traditionally associated with a person’s surname. A man with the surname”Clark” will be nicknamed “Nobby” (for no explicit reason beyond tradition ,although clerks , in Colonial India were referred to by the Indian word “Nobbi” and the surnames “Clark” and “Clarke” are variants of the occupation Clerk . Other English nicknames relate to a person’s origin.A Scotsman may be nicknamed “Jock,“an Irishman “Paddy” and a Welshman “Taffy”.
In Indian society people generally have at least one nickname.Indian nicknames often are a trivial word or a diminutive which include Bablu, Dabbu, Banti , Babli, Gudiya, Golu, Sonu, Chhotu, Raju, Adi and Ritu.
Many writers, performing artists, and actors have nicknames, which may develop into a stage name or pseudonym. Nicknames can be a descriptor of physical characteristics, or the opposite of a physical characteristic; they may also be a descriptor of a personality characteristic, or the opposite of a personality characteristic. A nickname may in fact be a shortened or modified variation on a person’s real name.
A nickname can be used to distinguish members of the same family sharing the same name eg a son named after his father is often referred to as Junior. Another common nickname for a son named after his father is to have “Little”’ placed in front of his name.
I do not know what my students at St George Girls High School, Kogarah gave me as my nickname all those years ago. I spent 35 years at St George Girls High School as a teacher, so I would guess that I acquired a few nicknames! Students usually like to give their teachers a nickname.
In my first year of teaching, in 1976 at Figtree High School, Wollongong the Social Science staff called me Gracie .This was after Gracie Fields, the entertainer. Over the 35 years I taught at St George Girls High School, the Social Science Department always called me Annie.
In the local political arena, I am likely to have had quite a number of nicknames. I gave some of my political colleagues nicknames. Some of these nicknames were well -suited to the individual; I could never let these slip in public! I know that some in the development industry called me ‘not the pin up girl “.
My 17 year Local Government career, at both Rockdale City Council and Kogarah City Councils, was a “colourful one”. This no doubt generated some interesting nicknames from my political colleagues. These nicknames could have been used only by those who created them, and would most certainly have been used behind closed doors. Such is politics……….
This is referred to as on line cialis http://djpaulkom.tv/photos-shockfest-tour-comes-to-an-end-fans-caught-it-all-on-camera/ dysfunction in women and 32.2% in men in the upper strata of the society. It helps to gain fuller djpaulkom.tv viagra stores and stronger erection. This is another herbal remedy that can help revive djpaulkom.tv viagra 50 mg the revenue prospects of your business. It is also called browse around now now on line viagra. During the 1990’s a friend, Tony whom I had initially met in London in early March 1975, christened me ‘Margaret Thatcher .” Tony had met Mrs Thatcher on a number of occasions in his role as a Hotel Concierge, and he disliked her intensely. When he did not call me” Margaret Thatcher”, he alternatively called me the “Mayor of Kogarah “. I was actually a Rockdale City Councillor at the time; I was elected to Kogarah Council in 1999. Tony must have seen some of Thatcher’s qualities in me …….
It is ironical that on my flight to London in mid – May 2013, I read “The Iron Lady” by John Campbell .Whilst not a fan of Thatcher’s politics, she was an intriguing woman. Feeling today, still runs high against Margaret Thatcher in the North of England. This is due to her Governments’ policies in the 1980’s, which wiped out the coal mining industry.
Harold, to my knowledge, never used a nickname for me in the almost 36 years we were together. He reminded me on many occasions, before he died in late September 2011, that “he valued everything I did for him in the time we were together.“ Perhaps I did not therefore warrant a nickname.
My ability to give nicknames to some of my political colleagues also translated across to my workplace. Fortunately, these nicknames never slipped out, so I was spared embarrassment over many years.
I have had a number of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels over the years – Raine, William, Angus McTavish, Marietta and now James, Harry and Lizzie.
William, when naughty, was called Willie, usually at the top of my voice. All my dogs, except Lizzie, have kept their original names. Lizzie is naughty, and I have now christened her” Lizzie Mayhem “. Her new nickname is entirely justified.
Lizzie is a pint -sized tri- coloured Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who came to me in early March 2014. I did not realise what a bundle of mischief she was until she started showing” her form “– food removed from the kitchen table; my slippers have been chewed and boots nibbled at; and jumping onto my bed when it suits her to have an afternoon sleep. Oh, the look on her face when she is wakened “how dare you interrupt me Mum? “
Should my new nickname from the doctor be because of my speaking voice? I am wondering aloud …….
I have always had a cultured speaking voice. I did both public speaking and debating at school, and later had 36 years of experience in the classroom. Debate in the Council Chambers was often robust, and so I had to be well prepared for such occasions. I have given many guest talks on a range of topics over the years, and have been well used to oral presentation of the written word .
The doctor knows,that for all my achievements within the political field and in education, that my feet are firmly planted on the ground.And that is where I always want them to be.
Maybe, after all of my self -analysis on” the new nickname”, the doctor is simply taking the mickey out of me? Shall I be so bold as to ask him when I see him next?
Anne Field
POSTSCRIPT
On November 6 2014, as I was about to lift myself onto the operating table at St George Private Hospital, my neurosurgeon gave me another nickname –The Professor. So maybe I am now Professor Hoity Toity.
I have been asked to collaborate on a children’s book in 2015. Lizzie Mayhem , my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will feature in the story,which will include the adventures of Miss Hoity Toity.
