topic Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion? in Community Chat

Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

bonnielu — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:44:28 GMT

I have always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I do believe I learned to read being hooked on them. I was recently watching an episode of ELEMENTARY where they featured the London detective LESTRADE. Both Lestrade and Holmes being British pronounced this name LESTRAWD. Using American English I would have said automatically LESTAYED. Watson used the Lestrawd sound. She is not British.

I have family members with names that I would say differently and I hesitate before I say their names. I see them perhaps once a year so it is not on a daily basis and we are not close.... distant cousins of sorts.

What would you do. . If it were a word in a sentence I would not think twice but a name is personal.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

terrier3 — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:47:24 GMT

Cheney pronounces his own name CHEENEY.

People on TV (except for Chris Matthews) say Chay-ney.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

sunshine45 — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:47:25 GMT

i have never heard that name pronounced LESTAYED, even by americans.....i have only heard it pronounced LESTRAWD.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:48:21 GMT

Is it possible that the director wanted the name pronounced a certain way?

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

biancardi — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:49:47 GMT

I would have pronounced it LESTRAWD, but that is because I have watched a lot of Holmes movies!

I would do my best with a name that could be unfamiliar to me. If it is a name that is commonly pronounced a certain way and I use that pronunciation - and it turns out that the person wants their name pronounced in a different way - well, it was a honest mistake and I would hope that person isn't offended, as unless I am told otherwise, how was I to know? I would take note of the way they want it pronounced going forward.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

Marienkaefer2 — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:50:34 GMT

It depends. If the name is that of an acquaintance, friend, or colleague,then I pronounce it the way they do.

In my area there are a lot of Russian and Ukrainian immigrants. One of my students at the college where I worked was named Irina. She was always so happy that I pronounced her name the Russian way "Eereena" instead if "Eye-rina."

I just think it's important.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

pinkskates4 — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:54:14 GMT

I would always go for pronouncing the name the way the person whose name it is does. If I didn't know, I'd ask.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

bonnielu — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:54:27 GMT

Gets tricky. As a teacher (now retired) I never got down with the kids as to totally identify myself with them. I was taught that way, to be myself and not try to be any other race or ethnic group... just be myself. It was schooled in us that it would be offensive to be someone other than what we are or to pretend to be them.

I have heard it pronounced Lestrayed in the old Sherlock Holmes movies... using the spelling Lestrade.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

MaggieToo — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:56:45 GMT

I had a friend once (when I lived in another state) whose name was Gisele.

She pronounced it Geezahla.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

Sushismom — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 22:01:22 GMT

I try to pronounce a person's name the way they do. Sometimes I can only get close, though. Has nothing to do with race, ethnicity, or being myself and everything to do with respect.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

lovemygigi — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 22:23:31 GMT

Why would you pronounce Lestrade as "LESTAYED"? What happened to the "R"? I'm trying to think of words where the R is dropped after the T in "American" English. Not saying they aren't any but I am coming up blank at the moment! I get why someone might pronounce it LESTRAYED, with a long "A", but not getting the dropping of the "R" at all.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

NoelSeven — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 22:25:31 GMT

On 3/2/2014 Sushismom said:
I try to pronounce a person's name the way they do. Sometimes I can only get close, though. Has nothing to do with race, ethnicity, or being myself and everything to do with respect.

Same here, and sometimes I stumble over it, go home and practice. That happened recently with a new MD of mine. I broke her name down into syllables to practice it, which helped.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

Magenta — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 22:26:18 GMT

Well, hello you all,

Having been born in the Netherlands, and living there until 22, I obviously have an accident, yet, many people don't know how to pronounce my name either. It comes from Elizabeth and my nickname is Liesbeth (ypu already knew). At first people would ask me if they can call me Betsy, and G. help me, Bessy! I would nicely decline and say that's what we call our cows in the NL so I prefer if you call me L. as that's what my friends call me. Problem solved mostly.

Magenta

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

sidsmom — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 22:47:52 GMT

I know these illustrations aren't dialect, but the mis-pronunciation is still confusing:

Reminds me of "Terms of Endearment" movie:

Patsy: Emma, this is Lizbeth.

Emma: [shakes hands with her] Oh, hi, Elizabeth.

Lizbeth: Hi. It's Lizbeth.

Emma: Isn't that what I said?

Lizbeth: No, you said "Elizabeth" with an e. It's Lizbeth.

Emma: Oh, two names? Liz Beth?

Lizbeth: Oh no, one. Lizbeth.

Emma: Lizbeth?

Lizbeth: Never mind.

The others laugh.

Patsy: And this is Jane.

Emma: Thank heavens!

How about the "Stepbrothers" movie...Pam/Pan/Pamn/Pand scene? Classic!

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

hennypenny — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 23:01:41 GMT

HI Magenta,

Was thinking about you this morning. How are your knees doing? Stay safe in the upcoming storms!

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

Free2be — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 23:17:18 GMT

I feel the same about Country names, too. Chile for instance. I learned in school to say it like the stuff that comes in a can but I believe it really should have been taught as the Chilean people say it: Chee-lay.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

sidsmom — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 23:22:40 GMT

The Brits have a ton of different pronunciations....British comedies. Garage = Gare-age, Jaguar = Jag-goo-r. I have to listen with a different set of ears, at times.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

MomOf4 — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 23:26:35 GMT

This is OT but I can barely watch Elementary. They all whisper through the whole thing. Even with the sound turned way up. I don't have any hearing problems. Even Lestrade was whispering. It is the only show that everyone whispers.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

Free2be — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 23:31:44 GMT

On 3/2/2014 sidsmom said:
The Brits have a ton of different pronunciations....British comedies. Garage = Gare-age, Jaguar = Jag-goo-r. I have to listen with a different set of ears, at times.

For the most part, they speak the proper pronounciation of each letter whereas we slide over them.

Re: Pronunciation of names in another accent or dialect. What is your opinion?

Free2be — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 23:35:34 GMT

On 3/2/2014 MomOf4 said:
This is OT but I can barely watch Elementary. They all whisper through the whole thing. Even with the sound turned way up. I don't have any hearing problems. Even Lestrade was whispering. It is the only show that everyone whispers.

My DH quit watching Elementary for that same reason, especially the way the main character talks. I felt that way about Person of Interest although I continue to watch. Whisper talk is just annoying -- and as I've posted before, when background sounds are loud, forget trying to hear the whispered dialogue.