Marija SESAR

Having just commenced a new job I decided it was time to reclaim the 'j.' Having thrown the 'j' in Marija into the 'too hard pile' upon entering high school, becoming a 'Maria,' I have since had a change of heart.

Now I feel I should be proud of my 'weirdly' spelt name, as it is in fact my name and a reflection of my heritage. I've realised it is possible to educate Anglo-Australians and that they are quite capable of pronouncing Marija as 'Mariya' and not 'Mareeja.' Like my auntie once said to her 8-year-son - who complained of his teacher calling him ZenkO - ''If you can teach the pet cockie to say Zdenko you can surely teach your teacher to say it too.'' 

This brings me to a wider 'education' issue that is perhaps more relevant to you, the dear reader. Have you noticed that the 'ic(h)' is becoming extinct in Australia? Our surnames are morphing into 'ic(k)'s before our very eyes and it is our own fault.

The mainstream visibility of surnames such as Popovic and Zelic did a lot for the education of the correct pronunciation of Croatian surnames, thanks especially to the likes of Les Murray and the late Johnny Warren. Goran Ivanisevic also contributed to this. Who could forget that (in)famous on-court lesson he gave to an umpire in pronouncing Ivan-ish-evic(h) ... and didn't we all love him for it!

Countering that, however, is the fact that Australian born Croats are not bothering to educate the wider community as to the so-called invisible 'h' at the end of their surnames.

We are quick to ''tut-tut'' in disgust at anyone who actually changes the spelling of their surname for improved pronunciation and adds an 'h', claiming they are diluting their Croatian heritage. Yet what is worse? Becoming a community of 'ic(k)'s or adding a 'h' to the spelling?

I am of the opinion it is better not change the spelling instead we should opt to educate the masses.

As Gough Whitlam said in the 70s... 'It's time!'

It's time to reclaim the 'h' and stop throwing it into the 'too hard' pile. So the next time you are at a bank, the dentist or starting a new job, consider making an effort to educate our Australian compatriots as to the invisible 'h'.

MARIJA SESAR was an active member of the Croatian community in her hometown of Geelong before making the big move to Sydney. As of this week, she joins 'The New Gen' in the role of Sydney social correspondent. We welcome Marija on board