Chinese Names Do Matter...

Have you ever thought of what shopping centres and retail malls are named after? What do their names signify? Some are named after the area and location they are within like Jurong Point and Tampines Mall, some are named after the developer in order for them to create a brand name like Centrepoint and Causeway Point (Point here, Point there), some are named with a sense of historical and cultural element. Some are even named after some sophisticated words or phrases that you don't really use. Like how often do you actually use the word "Paragon" in real life? I bet most of us don't really know that "Paragon" is defined as:

1. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept or ideal: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

2. A large spherical or nearly spherical pearl weighing 100 grains or more.

And then now we know it. Probably it's just some egoistic and snobbish developer who wants to create this snob appeal for Paragon. Nobody says he can't do it. And this name does fit the shopping mall, considering that it boasts high end retailers. But being the multilingual society that we are living in, there is a Chinese translation for its name. (One wonders why there isn't a Malay translation, an Indian translation, and I could go on. Hey, we are trying to be a global city, aren't we)



Now the thing is that the Chinese translation doesn't really seem to mean anything except sounding like its English Name. So long for a suitable English Name. If every shopping centre in Singapore had its Chinese name sound like its English name, imagine what Wisma Atria's and Palais Renaissance's Chinese Name would be... (Don't even bother trying to find a translation)

But the bigger issue here is that most shopping centre's names, even their English ones, are a total bore. Yes, they are easy to remember but don't you think they should be more funky and unique. It's always something something "mall", something something "Place or Plaza". Geez, you developers spend millions of bucks and end up with cheesy names. And darn, you guys still make money...