|
|
The world’s third-smallest country by population size has
made a poignant change to its
name — going
by Naoero (pronounced “Now-ero”) instead of Nauru
(“Now-roo”). But the name isn’t really new.
According to The Guardian, the atoll within the Oceania region became
known internationally as Nauru for convenience’s sake, because
many foreigners struggled to pronounce Naoero. The South Pacific
island nation was colonized by Germany in the late 19th century
and later administered by Australia until it became an independent
republic in 1968.
Other associated changes include adjusting the country code from
NRU to NRO and referring to the island’s people as dei-Naoero
rather than Nauruan. The shift marks “the beginning of renewed national pride,”
per last
week’s announcement from the government. The statement
continued: “The name Naoero has never been lost, but rather
waiting to be fully embraced.”