Pronouncing names and words with an accent

[Anonymous]

If you meet someone from another country who has a name that’s also an English name, do you use the American pronunciation or the pronunciation used in that country? For example, if you meet a Spanish person named Isabella, do you pronounce it the American way, or do you pronounce it (Ee-sah-BELL-ah)?

[Anonymous]

I try to pronounce everyone's names the way they pronounce it.

[Anonymous]

It would depend on how she introduced herself to others-plenty of people decide to Americanize the pronunciation of their name when speaking w English speakers and i would follow their lead.

I was in a small academic cohort where a woman introduced herself in a way that was a common way for English speakers to mispronounce her name. (LARla) and then one member of the group many months into our program googled the native pronunciation and started calling her “larLAAAAH.” It was word and larla did not appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to pronounce everyone's names the way they pronounce it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to pronounce everyone's names the way they pronounce it.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would depend on how she introduced herself to others-plenty of people decide to Americanize the pronunciation of their name when speaking w English speakers and i would follow their lead.

I was in a small academic cohort where a woman introduced herself in a way that was a common way for English speakers to mispronounce her name. (LARla) and then one member of the group many months into our program googled the native pronunciation and started calling her “larLAAAAH.” It was word and larla did not appreciate it.

This is a weird anonymizing comment. Why not just give us the name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to pronounce everyone's names the way they pronounce it.

+1
But some names are really hard to catch the pronunciation of for me unless I also see it written out phonetically OR they then say their name a second time I a slow exaggerated way so I can catch the individual syllables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you meet someone from another country who has a name that’s also an English name, do you use the American pronunciation or the pronunciation used in that country? For example, if you meet a Spanish person named Isabella, do you pronounce it the American way, or do you pronounce it (Ee-sah-BELL-ah)?

If you speak the language, you pronounce it correctly and not the American way.
If you are speaking in English, you pronounce it the American-way.
Trying to mix it up is somewhat insulting unless you can pronounce it correctly and know the person.
If it's a stranger, stick to the first two sentences, or you will look pretentious like a try-hard.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, I pronounce your name the way you pronounce it to me.

[Anonymous]

It's very hard for me to say the name of one of my friends the correct way. I try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to pronounce everyone's names the way they pronounce it.

So do I. It's more respectful.

I don't do the same with country or city pronunciations. To me that sounds affected. I say Paris not Paree. Moscow not Moscva. I speak both French and Russian but still won't stray from American pronunciations.

[Anonymous]

I went to school with a French guy named Claude and I would cringe when people would pronounce it 'clode'. It came off as pretentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to school with a French guy named Claude and I would cringe when people would pronounce it 'clode'. It came off as pretentious.

French person here. At least they're trying. Better than "clod"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would depend on how she introduced herself to others-plenty of people decide to Americanize the pronunciation of their name when speaking w English speakers and i would follow their lead.

I was in a small academic cohort where a woman introduced herself in a way that was a common way for English speakers to mispronounce her name. (LARla) and then one member of the group many months into our program googled the native pronunciation and started calling her “larLAAAAH.” It was word and larla did not appreciate it.

This is a weird anonymizing comment. Why not just give us the name?

My guess is Anastasia!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to school with a French guy named Claude and I would cringe when people would pronounce it 'clode'. It came off as pretentious.

I find that sort of attitude extremely irritating. Would you say someone is pretentious for trying to pronounce a Mexican or Indonesian name correctly? I don't think so. You are prejudiced against certain countries and not others. It means that deep down, you hold the (wrong) belief that some countries are better than others and you also hate feeling (wrongly) inferior, such that you resent people associating themselves with that country.

It's a very twisted way of thinking, PP. Stop that immediately.