The "Official" "Pronounce That" Thread
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Okay, so post some words that have spellings that are down right
confusing to try to say for the first time without hearing it first.
I'm a talented and smart person, but there are still some words that
stop me dead in my tracks when I try to pronounce them. Onward ho!
instantiate - I admit that the first time I saw it back in 8th grade, it confused me.
analgesic - Confused me for a long time.
breakfast - I couldn't properly pronounce breakfast until 3rd grade [:$]
(Disclaimer: the next one is not meant to be rude or degrating in anyway)
Alex's last name - I've been reading the site for a long time now and have yet to figure out how to pronounce it.
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Yeah, me too. I am used to people mispronouncing and misspelling my last name. Koppang. Now, it doesn't look that hard (pronounced: [Co Pang] in the US or [Co pong] in Norway), but people cannot spell it to save their lives. Copayne, Cocaine, I get it all.
The worst however, is that I have gotten used to spelling my name after saying it: "Yes, please deliver the pizza to Josh Koppang, K-O-P-P-A-N-G." Of course, they never listen and write C-O-P-I-N-E or whatever. Do you get the same Alex?
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rendezvous - wtf? (what the french?)
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@Jacob K said:
Alex's last name - I've been reading the site for a long time now and have yet to figure out how to pronounce it.
Actually, that one's pretty easy: paa-paa-dim-o-lis (American) or paw-paw-dee-moo-liss (Greek).
How about Schlotsky's, as in that toasted sub place?
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You may not believe me when I say this, but when I was younger certain people used to get so fed up with pronouncing my last name that they called me "Papadopolous". As in the last name of the father on that 80s sitcom "Webster". It was so very annoying. Whenever I see an Alex post it brings back memories. I just have to chuckle. [:D]
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Isn't Schlotzsky's the crappy sandwish place and Quizno's (kind of a
WTF name) the toasted sub place? Or does Schlotzsky's sell toasted subs
now, too?
Speaking of which, I'm going to Quizno's tomorrow for lunch.
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@Jacob K said:
Isn't Schlotzsky's the crappy sandwish place and Quizno's (kind of a WTF name) the toasted sub place? Or does Schlotzsky's sell toasted subs now, too?
I wonder if Europe has Quizno's. Probably not, huh? They're really missing out if they don't.
(And for the Europeans who don't know, Quizno's is not just another Subway's. It's way better.)
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<FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #efefef">Quiznos is a franchise? One opened up here in south australia - I thought it was a one off thing.</FONT>
<FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #efefef">Guess being part of something big helps them pay for the free subs for a year they were giving out on opening ;)</FONT>
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While we're on the topic of pronouncing words correctly...I remember back when Javascript came out and there were several people who pronounced it this way:
<FONT color=#006400 size=6>Javascrift</FONT>
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one that caught me out recently:
cynic, n: A <font color="#ff0000">blackguard</font> whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.
"blackguard", pronounced "blaggard". who knew? [:^)]
- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
Oh, and I used to think that Mr Bierce was actually a Mr Pierce. Hearing, more than speaking, error
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Blackguard's nothing. Placenames are where it's at. Like
Featherstonehaugh, Trottiscliffe, Barnoldswick, Cholmondeston,
Leicester and Worcester.
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Personally I like Reginald Beauregard Pennywhistle.
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Unless that's pronounced "Larry James Smith", it's not even close.
"Featherstonehaugh" is pronounced "Fanshaw", "Trottiscliffe" is
"Trosley", "Barnoldswick" is "Barlick", "Cholmondeston" is "Chumston",
and most people already know about Lester and Wooster.
This is similar to Canadian French, where "clé dynamometrique" is
pronounced "torque wrench" (usually followed by a mild blasphemy).
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Yeah, place names are good. There's a "Milngavie" here. (that's "MULL-guy". obviously.)
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No one else had a similar experience with pronouncing Javascript "Javascrift"?
I find that hard to believe...
