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Pronunciation
Per a conversation last night, I have a poll about pronouncing proper names depending on whether you're going by origin or by local preference or whatever. Some discussion under the cut.
[Poll #1118385]
Nevada. Of Spanish origin. Mr. Daroga believes it ought to be pronounced in the Spanish fashion, though the people (and government) of the state itself react very negatively to that pronunciation. The struggle: whether to hold true to the name's origin and look ignorant to the people who live there, or give in?
Bret. On the show, everyone but his countrymen call him "Bret," as it's spelled. Even when Jemaine is playing David Bowie. Mr. Daroga's position is that since it is his name and he says "Brit," one should attempt to pronounce it in the same fashion. I am not so sure; yes, it's his name, but isn't it like "faking" a New Zealand accent, and wouldn't that be grating, too?
What other names have this problem? Notre Dame, for instance. Any other favorites?
[Poll #1118385]
Nevada. Of Spanish origin. Mr. Daroga believes it ought to be pronounced in the Spanish fashion, though the people (and government) of the state itself react very negatively to that pronunciation. The struggle: whether to hold true to the name's origin and look ignorant to the people who live there, or give in?
Bret. On the show, everyone but his countrymen call him "Bret," as it's spelled. Even when Jemaine is playing David Bowie. Mr. Daroga's position is that since it is his name and he says "Brit," one should attempt to pronounce it in the same fashion. I am not so sure; yes, it's his name, but isn't it like "faking" a New Zealand accent, and wouldn't that be grating, too?
What other names have this problem? Notre Dame, for instance. Any other favorites?
no subject
Thats why the difference winds us up, cos people seem to think a-lum-i-num is how its spelt and we're just being wierd when its not. Or rather people here think Americans are being wierd for intentionally pronouncing it wrong and they tend to file it under the same issue as GW Bush being unable to pronounce nuclear which is sad.
I had a huge argument with someone for years over this, heres a link to the wiki page which explains that Aluminium is the international name and Aluminum is the US variant- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium#Nomenclature_history
no subject
We *are* taught nuclear, though, so Bush is not my fault. He can't say "Saddam" or any of the foreign leaders of nations, so I'm thinking nuclear is the least of his problems.
no subject
Yeah but half the people the world have trouble with foreign leaders, my of my friends is from Kashmir and she thinks its funny the way newsreaders mangle all the Pakistani names on TV. And the newsreaders are trained :p
no subject
Apparently, our dictionaries made Americans switch in the late 1800's, so there's not even any evidence here of the -ium spelling.
And the newsreaders are trained
It hardly seems like it. Almost none of them say "ih-RAN", for instance.