announcing new names
The following information is to help preceptors announce new names.
I. Background information
1. The private preceptor will have given a name that has been checked by one of the Sanskrit/Pali scholars. They should have the name with the correct diacritics where appropriate, know whether the name is in Pali or Sanskrit, know the anglicised version where appropriate, and know a short literal meaning. They should be able to give all of this to the relevant Public preceptor after the Public Ordination.
2. There are four ways of rendering a name:
i. with diacritics - hand-written, or typed if the appropriate fonts are available.
ii. Sanskritists use a code to denote diacritics by email to the private preceptor:
Long vowels (vowels with an - above): 'aa', 'ii', 'uu'. (same in Pali and Sanskrit) e.g. Tathaagata; dayaa; bhuuta; dharmacaaranii
Consonants: s with an acute above = "s ("sraddhaa); s with a dot underneath = .s (k.santi); t, n, d, with a dot underneath = .t, .n, .d (.daaka, karu.naa); n with a dot above = "n (sa"ngha); n with a ~ above = ~n (j~naana)
iii. The Sanskrit scholars have asked us to anglicise Sanskrit names (how they are pronounced) for the E-mail Bulletin and Shabda as follows:
'aa' is pronounced as the 'a' in 'father'. 'ii' is pronounced as the 'ee' in 'bee'. 'uu' is pronounced as the 'oo' in 'boot'. "s and .s are both pronounced as 'sh' - as in shraddha/shri, or kshanti/pushpa respectively. (N.B. in Pali there is only one letter 's' pronounced like our 's'). 'c' is pronounced as 'ch' - as in chandra, chitta, cheddika, for example. e.g. Chandraprabha. Sanskrit also has a letter 'ch' distinct from 'c'. This is quite rare, but would also be pronounced as 'ch'. N.B. other consonants: .t, .d, .n, and "n - are not anglicised but pronounced simply as t, d, and n.
iv. The anglicised form as above, plus in brackets, an indication of long vowels as an aid to pronunciation, and of other diacritics if appropriate. e.g. Shraddhagita (long second and final 'a'; long 'i')
II. How the Public Preceptor announces the names.
Public Preceptors might find it helpful to ask the relevant private preceptors to bring their emails from the Sanskrit scholars with them to the relevant retreat, so that no mistakes are made. It is also probably helpful to ask someone else to check the list before it goes out. The scholars take time and care to check names for us, and they obviously prefer to see the names accurately expressed in the Bulletin and in Shabda.
i. In the e-mail Bulletin: as this is often done quite soon after an ordination this can be simply the name in its anglicised form if appropriate; stating whether the name is Sanskrit or Pali; and the short, literal meaning. e.g. Shraddhagita (Skt) and the short meaning (she who sings the) song of faith.
ii. In Shabda: as there will have been time to check diacritics etc., this can be the name in its anglicised form if appropriate; stating whether the name is Sanskrit or Pali; plus in brackets, an indication of long vowels as an aid to pronunciation, and of other diacritics if appropriate or wished; the short meaning, and the name explained in full by the private preceptor. e.g. Shraddhagita (Skt) (long second and final 'a'; long 'i') Sudakini (Skt) (dot under d, long a and last i)
NB. The Preceptee is free to spell their name how they wish. For example many Shri folk spell their name Sri (Srimala, for example), or Shraddha folk as Sraddha (Shraddhagita), while others use the anglicised spelling, i.e. Shridakini, or Shraddhapushpa.