All the three words are Chechen masculine names. Borz means "wolf", Löma means "lion", and Nal means "wild boar". Wolf and lion signify freedom, dignity, and courage of Chechens. In Chechen culture, neither of them is a symbol of aggression or cruelty. Wild boar signifies strength and power.
Among these three, the most significant for Chechens is wolf. This is a kind of symbol of Chechnya. Wolf is depicted in a Chechen state emblem. Chechens say that when a Chechen is being born, at the same time, a wolf is being born. In a Chechen folk song and also in a Chechen anthem is is said,
At night, when the wolf was whelping, we were born.
In the morning, when the lion was roaring, we were given our names.
Previously, in this blog, I used pseudonym Lema Nal. In some others cases, I used pseudonym Borz. So, I just combined both pseudonyms. I began to use pseudonym Borz in August, 2006 and pseudonym Lema Nal in October, 2006. So, neither of them is new. In addition, the proper spelling is not Lema, but Löma. However, there are some difficulties with typing "ö" in Russian computers. Lema is Russian spelling of this name.
In Chechen, Borz is pronounced as Buorz. Here, "u" is pronounced like English "oo", but it is a very short sound. "Uo" is a diphthong which means that the two sounds are pronounced as one. Löma is pronounced with a long sound "ö" like German "öh", "a" is often not pronounced at all. "A" in Nal is pronounced as in "father".
By the way, I guess for Americans Borz Löma Nal sound like the first name, the middle name, and the last name. Chechen full names are formed in a different way. In official documents, they are formed according to the Russian pattern - the first name, the patronymic name (formed from the father's first name), and the last name. The patronymic name and the last name have special endings. For example, the last name from Nal will be Nalov. There is also Chechen traditional way - the first name, the father's name + "son/daughter", and the clan name + "clan". Both ways are too complicated for Americans, so I did not use either of them. All these three names are Chechen original first names without any endings.
I use Chechen pseudonyms because of my identification with Chechens. Chechens have a very strong national consciousness. Typical Russians consider a person as a typical Russian only if one of his/her parents or both are typical Russians. Chechens consider a person as a Chechen even if one of his/her distant ancestors was Chechen. I did have Chechen ancestors. So, I can consider myself as a Chechen, and other Chechens also consider me as a Chechen.
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4 comments:
Thanks for that lesson in Chechen culture. Unfortunately, America has been commercialized for so long that our symbolism is faded like a pair of pants after too many washings.
Thanks for your interest in Chechen culture. Actually, Chechens also have too many problems. However, they were able to preserve their culture.
There are many things in Chechen culture that I definitely like. The first of them is personal freedom. Chechens resist any pressure and are willing to defend their freedom. As Solzhenitsyn wrote in "The Gulag Archipelago", Chechens were the only ethnic group in the Soviet Union (among about 200) that was not subdued by Stalin. Chechens are not subdued by others and do not subdue others.
Chechens consider all the people as equal to themselves, not superior and not inferior, regardless of their social position or status. Every Chechen can freely contact another Chechen even if he is President of Chechnya.
Another concept cannot be rendered by one word in other languages. On the other hand, this is dignity, self-respect of a free person. It has nothing to do with boasting or arrogance. On the other hand, this is desire to be the best in everything. Again, it has nothing to do with despising other people.
In spite of Chechen personal freedom, Chechen culture does not promote individualism and selfishness. There are many altruistic traditions regarding mutual help, friendship, hospitality, and other things.
How true, Lema Nal. In America, we don't tend to really pay attention to what our names mean. I did some research on my own birth name and really like the meanings behind the names; and I added the pseudonym "Renee" to signify my "rebirth" after leaving a life of abuse and beginning a life of health. My birth name is a derivative of the Hebrew names whch mean, "Blessed of G-d," and "innocence of a lamb;" and my middle name also derives from the French word for "rock." Needless to say, my parents probably didn't realize it when they named me; but gave me names showing high hopes and expectations. By G-d's grace, I hope to not disappoint them.
Also, thanks for posting the link to my site in the margin.
--Renee
Actually, Russians do not pay much attention to the meanings of their names either. My real name is Russian, and I cannot say that it is very meaningful, though I know what it means unlike most Russians.
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