There are rules and restrictions for registering and using trade marks.
There have been law suits to settle trademark violations.
Apple
Apple Computers (in USA) was sued by Apple Music (in UK) for trademark violations.
The judge decided that the name “Apple” was being used in two different industries. Little did he know that several decades later iTunes (owned by Apple Computers) would be playing the Beatles music (owned by Apple Music).
Google
Google is an accidental misspelling of Googol.
Googol is one followed by 100 zeroes. It signifies a very large number.
iPhone
iPhone is a trade mark owned by Cisco.
Apple has an agreement with Cisco to use it for its smart phones.
iPad
iPad is a trade mark owned by Fujitsu.
Apple has an agreement with Fujitsu to use it for its product.
Name change of products (to avoid Trademark violation)
NPL (New Programming Language) was renamed by IBM as PL/1 (Programming Language One) due to protest by NPL (National Physical Laboratory)
When we were young, we were taught that a name should have a Christian name and a Surname.
Later, we were told that a name should have a First Name, a Last Name and an optional Middle Name or Initial.
Those rules do not apply to Burmese names.
Names with one word
Several well-known Burmese names have a single word. They include
Thant (3rd Secretary General of the United Nations)
Nu (1st Prime Minister of the Union of Burma)
Thein (Journalist)
Thaung (Journalist)
Mya (Politicians and Entrepreneurs)
The names are prefixed with
Maung
Ko
U
Thakin
Name of publication (e.g. Kyee Pwa Yay, Kyemon)
Place (e.g. Hinthada, Pway Bwe).
Names with two words
Most early Burmese names have two words. The names are chosen by parents and/or grand parents.
The names might comply with one of the common naming conventions. For example, a Sunday born will have “Ah” (Sunday group) as the first word and “Ka, Kha, Ga Nge, Ga Gyi, Nga” (Monday group) as the second word.
The pattern is DOW (Day of week) group followed by DOW + 1 (following Day of week) group.
Examples :
Aung Khin (for Sunday born)
Kyaw Zaw (for Monday born)
Soe Lwin (for Tuesday born)
Hla Myint (for Wednesday born)
Myint Thein (for Thursday born)
Than Naing (for Friday born)
Htay Aung (for Saturday born)
Naming Patterns
Another pattern is to have the same first and second words. Examples : Aung Aung, Khin Khin, Zaw Zaw, Hla Hla, Myint Myint, Than Than, Htay Htay
Some siblings will have a common first name. For example, Ba Thein, Ba Tu, Ba Phyu
Some siblings will have a common last name. For example, Myo Paing, Soe Paing, Win Paing, Kyaw Paing
Names with three words
Some Myanmar/Burmese names have three words. The names may or may not comply with a naming convention :
For example, a Sunday born will have “Ta, Hta, Da Dwe, Da Oke Chike, Na Nge” (Saturday group) as the first word, “Ah” (Sunday group) as the second word and “Ka, Kha, Ga Nge, Ga Gyi, Nga” (Monday group) as the third word.
The pattern is DOW – 1 Group as first word, DOW as second word, and DOW + 1 as third word.
Examples :
Tun Aung Gyaw (for Sunday born)
Aung Kyaw Zaw (for Monday born)
Kyaw San Win (for Tuesday born)
Names with four or more words
Thane Oke Kyaw Myint
Khin Maung Thet Cho Oo (Cartoon character)
Names of siblings
Some siblings have the first two words in common.
Examples : Khin Maung U, Khin Maung Than and Khin Maung Win are named after their father U Khin Maung.
Khin Maung Gyi and Khin Maung Lay (Mutu) are named after their father H.E. U Khin Maung Latt (AFPFL).
Nicknames
There are some who are better known by their nicknames. They include
Fascinating, full of wonder and memories, heart rendering, sublime Bagan finally, rightfully inscribed as World Heritage Site O … ancient Temple City where I left my heart
Every time one looks yonder touched by the whirling, swirling, vibrant Ayeyarwaddy (Lord of the rivers) Misty, dreamy panoramic view O … my dear Ayeyarwaddy
Finest culture Treasure of sculpture Architecture galore Countless shrines and pagodas of Pagan Will last for eternity as World Heritage Site to be revered, cherished and appreciated O … glorious Bagan
တကၠသိုလ္ မိုး၀ါ ၇-၇-၂၀၁၉ နံနက္ ၁၁:၃၀
Tekkatho Moe War (Saya U Moe Aung) July 7, 2019 11: 30 AM
Translation is done from a Source Language into a Target Language.
Burma Translation Society was formed primarily to translate reference and text from English to Burmese.
Pali Text Society in the UK publishes selected English translations of Pali texts.
One of the Objectives of the Sixth Buddhist Council was to translate the Scriptures (including Commentaries and selected Sub-commentaries) from Pali into Burmese. Mahasi Sayadaw and his team (including Sayadaw U Silananda) compiled a Pali-Burmese Abhidan (Dictionary) to aid the translation of the Tipitaka.
Lexicographers
Reverend Judson and his team compiled the “English to Burmese” and “Burmese to English” dictionaries. They translated the Bible into Burmese.
There are several Dictionaries compiled by Burmese. The early works were done by
U Tun Nyein
Dr. Ba Han
Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe)
U Hoke Sein took two decades to complete his Pali-English-Burmese Dictionary.
Lost in Translation?
Some meaning can be lost in Translation.
Grapevine says that the Japanese were given an ultimatum by the US. The response supposedly had two meanings : (a) We will consider (b) We don’t care Due to miscommunication or “wrong” translation, the second meaning was taken, and the first A-bomb was released over Hiroshima.
Interpreters find it difficult to translate jokes or puns. One interpreter pleaded : “The dignitary is making a joke. If you want to help me retain my job, please applaud loudly and laugh heartily.” His job was saved.
WPD Sunday Supplement
Working People’s Daily (WPD) carried a Sunday Supplement. It carried the translation of renowned authors and scholars.
They include
MMT (former Chief Justice U Myint Thein)
Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe)
ZMT (former Ambassador U Zaw Myint Thein)
Sao Hso Holm (English First Class Honors, son of Arzani Sao San Htun)
The Assistant Editor Daw Khin Swe Hla (formerly “Dawlay” at Guardian) wanted some fresh blood. She assigned me to translate a short story “Nge Thay Lo” by Sayagyi U Thu Kha. I tried my best to come up with “Still So Young” and received a remuneration of fifty kyats. Sayagyi was given fifty kyats.
My experience
Translator and Interpreter at Meditation Retreats and selected events
Loose rendition of articles and poems by Sayas and alumni
HlaMin 