2006-12-13 02:19:41 · 5 answers · asked by ratri n 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Standards & Testing
Because we are not machines! We are individuals, and names help express our individuality. What a dull world it would be if we were all assigned a number and that's what we were known as. Also, how would you remember the numbers of everyone you encounter? Plus, with over a billion people on the planet the numbers would get quite large!!!
2006-12-13 02:30:48 · answer #1 · answered by Christabelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When people first started using names (or were given names!), they only had first names. There were all ready too many people to just use numbers to identify them, so they started using names. All most at once, there were many with the same name, so the location was added. An example would be: John of Towns-ville. Then over time, a more formal last name came in to use. Quite often this was established by the elite. Kings, Emperors, etc. would take last names that would extinguish them among all others. This later led to their Vassar's taking a broader family type name, such as the name Richards, meaning they were of the house of Richard the Lion Hearted. This (in this example as well as others) led to the (as family trees grew) extension of "son", from the house of King Richard to the formal name Richards and then to the name Richardson. By even this early time in history, a number in stead of a name, would have been astronomical, and since most of the worlds population was illiterate, they had little understanding of numbers. They may only have been known as "Little John of Towns-ville" but they sure knew who "Lord Richards" was when he rode into town with his entourage.
2006-12-13 02:45:51 · answer #2 · answered by Dusty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have numbers instead of names. Depends of where and when.
Don't you have a social security number? Or an employee number? Or a driver license? Or anything with a number AND your name on it? :D
2006-12-13 02:22:32 · answer #3 · answered by eth1_hifi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Assume you are a parent: would you rather name the kid 3445 or something like Bob or Leroy?
Malcolm X would have probably kept his last name, had it not been 'Little'. If his last name had been 'King' or 'Major' or 'Rockefeller', I bet he would not have changed it.
2006-12-13 02:22:58 · answer #4 · answered by Richard E 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you buck the trend with your kids?
2006-12-13 02:28:23 · answer #5 · answered by Mosh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋