Tasi means "sea"; Tasi means "noble"

[asakiyume]

I know the people at the post office; I'm there a lot. Back when Little Springtime first was in Japan (she's back there again--let's have no earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disasters this time, please, Seafather and Lady) I found out that one of the women who works there has a daughter who lives in Japan. That woman--Tasi--is Samoan.

The other day when I was there, I had Timor-Leste on the mind, and seeing Tasi reminded me that in Tetun, tasi means sea--so I told her so. She smiled, and said, "and in my language it means 'noble.' Aliitasi, 'noble one.'"

So Tasi is just a nickname. Aliitasi is the complete name. It sounded so beautiful when she said it--here, I found it online: Aliitasi.

"'Noble one.' So every time someone says your name, they're respecting you," I said.

"Suuure they are," she said, skeptically.

But I think, yes. Even though they don't know it, even if they're acting disrespectful. Noble One. Even here and now, names have power.

Comments

[stormdog.livejournal.com]

I like the thought that names have meanings in that way very much. Mine, though, expresses the concept of Christ-bearer, one who carries Christ with him. While I think Jesus was probably a pretty down-to-earth, hippy kind of guy who I might get along with, I'm not a follower of any of the religions that exist in his name, so it's something of a misnomer for me.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

In your case, maybe it can mean that you bear some of the ideals that Christ championed (i.e., without having to mean that you are follower).