Pronouncing names and words with an accent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is pretty good advice but my Russian friend Ivan always hated that American people called him Eye-ven instead of the Russian which sounds a lot like Yvonne.

Being chill about it and fixing any problems with a pleasant correction works well. Also I hate those little statements that mispronouncing people's names is a microaggression. Unless it's deliberately done to anger someone, it's not a slight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

What if you need to say it cold without hearing them pronounce it?

You ask them how to pronounce it.

Let's say you are in a situation where you can't ask or perhaps they ask you how you think it is pronounced.

If they play games like that then they get what they get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

What if you need to say it cold without hearing them pronounce it?

You ask them how to pronounce it.

Let's say you are in a situation where you can't ask or perhaps they ask you how you think it is pronounced.

If they play games like that then they get what they get.

Why not just answer the question? If you don't know and had to pick, would you use the American pronunciation or the one used in that country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

What if you need to say it cold without hearing them pronounce it?

You ask them how to pronounce it.

Let's say you are in a situation where you can't ask or perhaps they ask you how you think it is pronounced.

If they play games like that then they get what they get.

Why not just answer the question? If you don't know and had to pick, would you use the American pronunciation or the one used in that country?

Definitely American one. They can then correct me if they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is pretty good advice but my Russian friend Ivan always hated that American people called him Eye-ven instead of the Russian which sounds a lot like Yvonne.

Being chill about it and fixing any problems with a pleasant correction works well. Also I hate those little statements that mispronouncing people's names is a microaggression. Unless it's deliberately done to anger someone, it's not a slight.

I think people say it's a microaggression when the mispronouncer has had many opportunities to learn the correct pronunciation but has not shown an interest in learning.

[Anonymous]

It’s funny how different people prefer different things. My name is Maria. I hate it when people try and say my name with a Spanish accent. It’s jarring to my ear. If we’re speaking English, you can pronounce my name in English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NP but I absolutely think that the white lady who overpronounces “Carlos” and “Diego” in an English language discussion is pretentious. Same with “Buenos Aires” - just say it. Don’t make a performance of it to convince me you also speak Spanish fluently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is pretty good advice but my Russian friend Ivan always hated that American people called him Eye-ven instead of the Russian which sounds a lot like Yvonne.

Being chill about it and fixing any problems with a pleasant correction works well. Also I hate those little statements that mispronouncing people's names is a microaggression. Unless it's deliberately done to anger someone, it's not a slight.

That takes us back to the rule: pronounce it how the person does when introducing themselves. It’s simple courtesy.

[Anonymous]

I work on a very multicultural team. I think it would seem very pretentious if I tried to use 5 different accents to introduce the people around the table. We have Spanish, Chinese, Jamaican, Kenyan, Armenian, and English at the table. I use the same accent when saying everyone’s name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is pretty good advice but my Russian friend Ivan always hated that American people called him Eye-ven instead of the Russian which sounds a lot like Yvonne.

Being chill about it and fixing any problems with a pleasant correction works well. Also I hate those little statements that mispronouncing people's names is a microaggression. Unless it's deliberately done to anger someone, it's not a slight.

That takes us back to the rule: pronounce it how the person does when introducing themselves. It’s simple courtesy.

This. On the chance you are calling them or meeting them from text (I once had a job where one of my duties was to call to call people and schedule appointments), you try your best, if you get it wrong you immediately apologize and use it going forward.

[Anonymous]

And by the way, it is pronounced leviosa not leviosa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is pretty good advice but my Russian friend Ivan always hated that American people called him Eye-ven instead of the Russian which sounds a lot like Yvonne.

Being chill about it and fixing any problems with a pleasant correction works well. Also I hate those little statements that mispronouncing people's names is a microaggression. Unless it's deliberately done to anger someone, it's not a slight.

That takes us back to the rule: pronounce it how the person does when introducing themselves. It’s simple courtesy.

But often they pronounce it that way because of their accent. I find it unnatural to mimic people’s accents. I am not sure everyone likes having someone mimic or copy their accent. I travel a lot and I expect people to say my name with their natural accents. I would find it odd if they tried to change their accent to speak like me to say my name and honestly no one does that. They aren’t actors who have been trained to speak in other accents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

How about a French guy named Guy?

How about a guy from Boston named Marty? Do you go for Marrty or Maahty?

And how do you pronounce Fifty Cent?

How about Salt n Pepa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think this is pretty good advice but my Russian friend Ivan always hated that American people called him Eye-ven instead of the Russian which sounds a lot like Yvonne.

Being chill about it and fixing any problems with a pleasant correction works well. Also I hate those little statements that mispronouncing people's names is a microaggression. Unless it's deliberately done to anger someone, it's not a slight.

That takes us back to the rule: pronounce it how the person does when introducing themselves. It’s simple courtesy.

That requires some fluency in their native tongue. Many English speakers have a tough time pronouncing romantic-language accents properly.

Trying to do so makes them look like either a simpleon fool, or mocking and pandering, or both.

[Anonymous]

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

I have a Québécois friend who has a very common British first name. When i heard him pronounce his name - which is very different from how I would pronounce it as an American - I said, "I'm glad to know how you pronounce your name so i can say it how you do." His reply was just "You are not francophone."