How do you pronounce "Iraq?" 2

[jsteph]

I guess I don't see a problem with different pronunciations.

Different countries, and further--different regions within different countries--simply have different dialects and accents.

For example, who are we to say that the city of New York isn't "Noo Yawk"--the way it is pronounced by the majority of that city's residents? Should we start referring to Paris as "Pahree" just because that's how they pronounce it in France? It's not only a different dialect/accent--it's a different language.

And while I'm on this rant, why do news reporters with an 'ethnic' background feel the need to first read entire stories in standard middle-american 'non-accents', but then read their name in the byline in an extremely exaggerated accent of their ethnicity, such as NPR's CardrdrdrloSSS HerdrdrdrdrNAHndeSS Gomez?
--Jim

 

[KornGeek]

For example, who are we to say that the city of New York isn't "Noo Yawk"--the way it is pronounced by the majority of that city's residents?

This made me chuckle because my girlfriend is from Brooklyn (I'm from California) and we often get into disagreements about how to pronounce certain words. For instance, I tease her that out here, we don't have "watah" and she'll have to settle for "water".

It actually offends her ears to hear me pronounce "mozzarella".

 

[SantaMufasa]

we don't have "watah"

When my UK friends come to visit, my live-in grandchildren often have trouble with the Brits' request for woe-tah versus our local wah-tur...not to mention the funny looks from my teen-grans when the Brits ask for a "rubbah", or a request for me to give them a "tinkle", or for me to "knock them up at hah-past seven in the moh-nin'". <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[BadBigBen]

not to mention the funny looks from my teen-grans when the Brits ask for a "rubbah", or a request for me to give them a "tinkle", or for me to "knock them up at hah-past seven in the moh-nin'". <grin>

I know the feeling...

Every time my boss, a German who had lived in the US like 30 yrs. ago, pronounces "site" as seed and "header" as heater, I cringe in pain...

but the "rubbah" being an eraser, I knew... still funny... but enlighten me as to the "tinkle", I know what it means in Am. English, but in the Queen's English I have no idea...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[SantaMufasa]

...enlighten me as to the "tinkle"...

...A phone call (since "tinkle" is the sound that an incoming call makes, at least in the UK <grin>).

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

"tinkle" is the sound that an incoming call makes, at least in the UK

That depends on your phone's ringtone, surely?

Besides - in the UK we also use 'tinkle' to describe the act of urination - although it's certainly not used as much now as it used to be. You most often see it on the 'classic' toilet sign in old people's houses and B&Bs, etc:

'If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be sweet and wipe the seat'.

On the subject of pronunciation, I'd wager that not many Americans would pronounce the word 'route' as 'root', instead using 'rowt'... except when referring to 'Route 66'. Would I win that wager?

Dan



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[BadBigBen]

Santa - thank you for the clear up there...

BRPS - I've always pronounced ROUTE as ROOT, though both pronunciations are correct (according to Merriam and Webster)...

the funny thing is, when most people I talk to be it German techs or UK techs, they all pronounce ROUTER as ROWTER...

PS: I learned my English in Texas, heavy influenced through a Floridian step dad, with a tinge of German accent - and now most Americans think I come from the North East (RI or there about...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[KornGeek]

On the subject of pronunciation, I'd wager that not many Americans would pronounce the word 'route' as 'root', instead using 'rowt'... except when referring to 'Route 66'. Would I win that wager?

It depends on how you define "many". I'd say you'd be right for the majority of Americans, however, even a small percentage of Americans could be considered "many".

 

[SkipVought]

I'd take the best rowt to root 66.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[SantaMufasa]

pronounce ROUTER as ROWTER...

This is especially true downundah (Australia) where if you were a rooter, you are one who excels in non-verbal intercouse. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[BadBigBen]

Santa - gotta remember that one... ;-)

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[flapeyre]

So.. if my drain is backed up in Oz, I have to call Roto-Router? [flush]

-- Francis
I'd like to change the world, but I can't find the source code.

 

[SantaMufasa]

in Oz, I have to call Roto-Router...

The mental picture of a Roto-Rooter (in Australia) boggles my mind. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]
“Beware of those that seek to protect you from harm or risk. The cost will be your freedoms and your liberty.”

 

[FI0L]

Of course if you're referring to a router when talking about a woodworking tool in the U.K., it's pronounced Row-ter (Row as in How).

Darn, I love the English language.

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing

 

[flapeyre]

FI0L

In that sense, we leftpondians also pronouce "router" that way.

-- Francis
I'd like to change the world, but I can't find the source code.

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

That's no surprise, as it routs, and has nothing to do with roots or routes.



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