New Post
Search
HelpHow much does your accent influence your favourite name choices?
For example, I love the name Casper, but we don't pronounce it casp-err locally, it's casp-ah (Ah as in "Annex" and not Ah as in "Shark") or even casp-oh (Oh as in "On" and not Oh as in "Low"). I don't prefer this pronunciation over the more "purr" like -er, however, I am guilty of the Casp-ah and It's not something I can change without sounding funny.
Still love the name and would use it.
But others, I have noted that I must keep local pronunciation in mind as it really can sound completely different.
What about you?
---
"one particular boogie will move mirror massaging with stirring crepe mixture, positioning loaves while in the furnace then toting items in containers" ~ best Russian daing sites (guest, 198.144.149.xxx) (2020)
Formally PrincessZ and Princess Magpie
Still love the name and would use it.
But others, I have noted that I must keep local pronunciation in mind as it really can sound completely different.
What about you?
---
"one particular boogie will move mirror massaging with stirring crepe mixture, positioning loaves while in the furnace then toting items in containers" ~ best Russian daing sites (guest, 198.144.149.xxx) (2020)
Formally PrincessZ and Princess Magpie
Replies
I can't specifically think of names that are ruined by my accent, but I can think of a few that can be ruined by my language, if that makes any difference. There are a number of names that are used in English speaking countries that are also used elsewhere. I typically prefer the English pronunciation. There are exceptions like Bertha (BIRTH-uh in English, bu BARE-tuh in German). I prefer the German way to say Bertha.
However, there are some names that look English to me, but they do not have sounds that are commonly found in English. Certain syllables run together too much for me, or their sounds are too harsh. For example, "hi" in Japanese is pronounced like "KHEE". I don't like the name Hitohiko because the "KH" sound is not only harsh, but said twice. And the "e" sound in Japanese is pronounced like "eh" not "ay". Sumire sounds prettier to me if its pronounced wrong. Or there is the "CH" sound in Gaelic languages. Lachlan is hard for me to say the Scottish way.
However, there are some names that look English to me, but they do not have sounds that are commonly found in English. Certain syllables run together too much for me, or their sounds are too harsh. For example, "hi" in Japanese is pronounced like "KHEE". I don't like the name Hitohiko because the "KH" sound is not only harsh, but said twice. And the "e" sound in Japanese is pronounced like "eh" not "ay". Sumire sounds prettier to me if its pronounced wrong. Or there is the "CH" sound in Gaelic languages. Lachlan is hard for me to say the Scottish way.
On the name Lachlan,
There was a boy who came to England from somewhere in Africa. I do not know exactly where and I do not know if Lachlan was his original name or not. He was in my high school and I remember there being a petitian being brought round to stop his family from being deported - and that's most of what I know about the boy.
I bring this up because everybody called him "Laxan" as in "Lack-san". It's only fairly recently (I've been out of high school for nearly half my life now), that I found out his name was actually Lachlan.
Now, I do not know at all if this was an actual pronunciation of Lachlan, or if it was misprounounced in Year 7 and he never corrected anybody because he was too polite and/or embarassed to (presumably) correct the teachers during the first week.
Though, I have to admit, that Lachlan is also hard for me to pronounce and that's probably entirely what happened, somehow. Probably more like Chinese whispers but from 11 year olds mispronouncing the name more and more until you get the "Lax" sound.
I've been half wishing I could bump into him and ask how he's doing and also to put to bed the mystery behind his name lol
There was a boy who came to England from somewhere in Africa. I do not know exactly where and I do not know if Lachlan was his original name or not. He was in my high school and I remember there being a petitian being brought round to stop his family from being deported - and that's most of what I know about the boy.
I bring this up because everybody called him "Laxan" as in "Lack-san". It's only fairly recently (I've been out of high school for nearly half my life now), that I found out his name was actually Lachlan.
Now, I do not know at all if this was an actual pronunciation of Lachlan, or if it was misprounounced in Year 7 and he never corrected anybody because he was too polite and/or embarassed to (presumably) correct the teachers during the first week.
Though, I have to admit, that Lachlan is also hard for me to pronounce and that's probably entirely what happened, somehow. Probably more like Chinese whispers but from 11 year olds mispronouncing the name more and more until you get the "Lax" sound.
I've been half wishing I could bump into him and ask how he's doing and also to put to bed the mystery behind his name lol
My accent alone doesn’t influence my name choices. Some people would call my accent posh but neither husband or I see it that way. Husband is the only person I have ever met who has been able to correctly place my accent as soon as he met me despite knowing nothing of where I was born. However where I live is around 102 square miles and has around 500,000 people in it. There are six distinct local accents within that area and within husbands and my immediate family there are ten different British accents. Both of these influenced our name choices. We have within our immediate family people who say hands, people who say hanz people who say hand and people who say hawn and all mean the plural of the same body part.
As a bilingual person, for me the difference often comes from English vs. French. I enjoy some name in French but can't stand their English pronunciation (Blanche, Agnès for example). And the contrary is also true: some names are nice in English, but sound out of place in my head in French (Ada, Delilah, Sibyl come to mind).
I am from Québec and accents can be a sensitive subject here 'cause French people (from France) often look down on the way we speak. I'm actually proud of my accent and will defend it has much as I can. But there is a tendency amongst French Canadians to pronounce names ending in ''a'' like ''AW''. It's hard to describe but I often explain it as a ''low'' a. For example: AmandAW. Whereas, ''nicer'' French will say ''AmandAH''. It feels classist to say so because I want to avoid judging people on their accent, but I can't help it. I really prefer ''AmandAH''. It feels softer to my ears in French. And I think because of that, I would probably refrain from using a name ending with the letter ''A'' if I was to have children and raise them here. Not that these names are not nice, but I would go nuts hearing people say ''AlissAW'' and not ''AlissAH''
I am from Québec and accents can be a sensitive subject here 'cause French people (from France) often look down on the way we speak. I'm actually proud of my accent and will defend it has much as I can. But there is a tendency amongst French Canadians to pronounce names ending in ''a'' like ''AW''. It's hard to describe but I often explain it as a ''low'' a. For example: AmandAW. Whereas, ''nicer'' French will say ''AmandAH''. It feels classist to say so because I want to avoid judging people on their accent, but I can't help it. I really prefer ''AmandAH''. It feels softer to my ears in French. And I think because of that, I would probably refrain from using a name ending with the letter ''A'' if I was to have children and raise them here. Not that these names are not nice, but I would go nuts hearing people say ''AlissAW'' and not ''AlissAH''
Not an accent issue but I have a speech impediment: rhotacism so i can't really say "R". So unfortunately I could never really use a name that starts or ends with it. My favorite off the list due to this is Richardis. I could never use it for a child if I ever have one.
This message was edited 8/22/2024, 7:36 PM
I love the name Eleanor, but I'm on the fence about ever using it because of pronunciation. I pronounce it ell-uh-nor, but some parts of my family who are from other states pronounce it ell-uh-nr (as if the o doesn't exist).
I have a great aunt Eleanor, and my family all says it like "Ellen-ur". It really doesn't do the name justice at all!
Where I'm from the t or tt in the middle or end of names is either dropped or emphasised so names like Matt, Katie, Lottie can be pronounced in 2 different ways (I personally drop the t or tt)
Also most words/names that end in ar or er like Jasper are usually pronounced with a short ah sound.
This means I'll be less likely to use names with either of these patterns as it'll will be frustrating if someone mispronounces the name.
Also most words/names that end in ar or er like Jasper are usually pronounced with a short ah sound.
This means I'll be less likely to use names with either of these patterns as it'll will be frustrating if someone mispronounces the name.
My accent is very neutral, so it doesn’t change much for me.
Edit: I think I should change it to “My accent is one from around Washington DC”.
Edit: I think I should change it to “My accent is one from around Washington DC”.
This message was edited 8/23/2024, 3:06 AM
Yeah, accents are just a question of perspective. No one in the world has a ''neutral'' accent, 'cause you'll always sound different to someone from another country/region/area/etc. ;) ;) ;)
Thank you, I edited my comment.
One of my pet peeves is when people are adamant they don't have an accent at all 🤣 like you're speaking, aren't you? LOL
To be honest everyone thinks their accent is "neutral" though XD cause that is what you are used to
I would say it doesn't prevent me from liking certain choices, but it does hinder my preference for usages. For instance: Americans, particularly midwestern Americans, have difficulty pronouncing the T sound mid-word. So things like Taylor can be enunciated no problem, but Katie and Peter become Kay-dee and Pee-der, with a D sound. I try to say the names "correctly" but struggle with this. As a result, I would be notably less likely to use a name with this pattern as it would be a frustration to me both when I and other people mispronounce the name.
We have a similar issue with Katie and Peter, but rather than day-dee and pee-der its kay-eh and pee-oh. Very strong gluttal stop we have here lol
Edit: I do have to say that in my family we have a Peter and my immediate family (mum, dad, brother) say Pee-toh rather than pee-ter or pee-oh.
Edit: I do have to say that in my family we have a Peter and my immediate family (mum, dad, brother) say Pee-toh rather than pee-ter or pee-oh.
This message was edited 8/22/2024, 11:57 AM
My accent does rain on my parade sometimes.
Where I'm from, Ts are often turned into Ds. A lot of the names that sound really pretty in their original British English - like Lottie, Leticia or Letty, Felicity, Amity - get turned into a plodding, clumsy mess in my accent, because nobody would pronounce the T. One of my great great grandmothers was called Lottie, and I love that, but if I used it, it would get turned into Loddie. If I insisted on that sharp T sound, I'd come across as an insufferable snob. I'm trying to train myself to appreciate "Loddie", but it's not easy. Maybe I should work on embracing a reputation as an insufferable snob.
Where I'm from, Ts are often turned into Ds. A lot of the names that sound really pretty in their original British English - like Lottie, Leticia or Letty, Felicity, Amity - get turned into a plodding, clumsy mess in my accent, because nobody would pronounce the T. One of my great great grandmothers was called Lottie, and I love that, but if I used it, it would get turned into Loddie. If I insisted on that sharp T sound, I'd come across as an insufferable snob. I'm trying to train myself to appreciate "Loddie", but it's not easy. Maybe I should work on embracing a reputation as an insufferable snob.
I didn’t even know some people pronounced those with hard Ts.
I have to admit, I'm in two minds.
On one hand, saying that our local accent changing the names sounds common is not only snobbish, but very classist and we have far too much of that problem. But on the other hand, I genuinely prefer the "proper" pronunciations to most names, so I don't know which direction to go in...
On one hand, saying that our local accent changing the names sounds common is not only snobbish, but very classist and we have far too much of that problem. But on the other hand, I genuinely prefer the "proper" pronunciations to most names, so I don't know which direction to go in...
that's a thoughtful and insightful observation. I agree
This made me think of Game of Thrones.
When reading the books, I always said Petyr (Little Finger) as Pee-teer or Peh-teer (emphasis on the last sound being closer to ''ee''). Whereas in the HBO series, it was simply pronounced like ''Peter'', like regular English. G.R.R. Martin has commented that he doesn't give out pronunciation guides and the readers can imagine the pronunciation they wish. It's just interesting how show producers interpreted it compared to some readers.
When reading the books, I always said Petyr (Little Finger) as Pee-teer or Peh-teer (emphasis on the last sound being closer to ''ee''). Whereas in the HBO series, it was simply pronounced like ''Peter'', like regular English. G.R.R. Martin has commented that he doesn't give out pronunciation guides and the readers can imagine the pronunciation they wish. It's just interesting how show producers interpreted it compared to some readers.
oh no... we all called him "Peeda" here, haha! We really cannot handle that sharp T.
if you listen to JLaw in the movies she still says it "Peeda" as well actually lol
right, we will find a way to still say it wrong lmao