2008-05-17 17:57:58.374045+00 by ziffle 2 comments
In 1995 Mongolia passed a law allowing people to have last names.
One of the reasons was everyone was inbreeding without knowing it. Another was it was "rough on the phone company which still organized the phone book by first name".
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comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2008-05-19 15:27:23.641954+00 by: petronius
I'm told that the Icelandic phone book is also organized by first name, since your last name is based on your father's first name, ie; "Nils Ragnarsson" or his sister, "Helga Ragnarsdottir". Of course Nils' kids will be "Lars Nilsson" and "Katrin Nilsdottir" and so forth. Imagine some Korean immigrant's ending up as Kim Il Sonsson.
#Comment Re: made: 2008-05-19 16:09:26.427927+00 by: ziffle
In China you pronounce the last name then the first name. "Hello, I am Smith John" Perfect for phone books.