We're not all ignorant, but Americans have a habit of slipping into a first-name basis with almost anybody they meet. In the unlikely event that I meet Mr. Federer I'll refrain from calling him "Roger."

I thought they pronounced as la Cite de les put@nt de merde$ anglais. With a spit for emphasis. Non?

( e with inflexion can't find it)

OK Roger that!

I think that may true, but the point of my original post was that I found it amusing that some Swiss people, who are trying to imitate the pronounciation of western brands true to the way Americans pronounce these brands, mispronounce them. Since the original poster used Homer as an example to describe this phenomenon, I sought to add on other words as well. I am Swiss myself, so in a way the joke's on me.



Absolutely, the joke goes both ways. I would add also the US pronounciation of Addidas to the list by Americans. They mispronounce that word in my opinion and I think it is equally funny.


I must admit I do not have any knowledge over Modern Greek or Ancient Greek and I would like thank you for the instructions on how to pronounce Greek syllables. My reply to DB which featured spelling of Nike as Niké was not intended to address the pronounciation of the word, but instead on how to spell the word. My knowledge is limited in that area as well, hence my reliance on Wikipedia. The lecture on pronounciation misses the point however. Going back to my original post: I am asserting that the mispronounciation over Nike by some Swiss people is caused because they are trying to imitate the US pronounciation and not because they are trying to pronounce the word of the Greek goddess Niké.

It's all Greek to me, or DB as they say!

I like the way the way that people pronounce things differently and I like the informal way that people in the US tend to use first names. The idea of language is to communicate effectively, not form barriers. If the pronunciation leads to confusion then it needs to be discussed. However if the pronunciation is understood, or even accepted then move on. I am interested in the roots of words though. I love etymology though. I used to collect dictionaries.

fascinating subject

http://www.etymonline.com/

History teaches us that the opposite is true.

Huh? Nike, the goddess, is spelt Nike in English, hence the name of the brand.

I don't know where you get that accent from.


But your assertion is wrong because Swiss people are actually saying Nike correctly, unlike many Americans who mispronounce it. Which is why I find it amusing that you find it amusing...

... and why my nephews call this guy " speeder mon " ...

... and Americans have fantastic " day sha woo " moments ...

It depends on whether you want to share ideas or not. Those who wish to conserve and protect what they have- like colonialists, may form barriers, However those not afraid to share ideas- like Americans and recently UK are often a lot more flexible. I do believe that people should learn and model correct pronunciations of words, but they should be so pedantic about other people's usage; it is rude,condescending and in any case you pronunciation may be contestable.

Apart from that, there tends to be a hierarchy; some expect the Swiss to be able to say Nike correctly, but do they expect Americans to pronounce Boehner correctly? The hierarchy gets even more pronounced when it comes to ' exotic' words for example Arabic or Chinese. For instance: Abu Dhabi, is not probounced Abu dabby as they pronounce in F1 or Flintstones Aby dabby du. And Dubai is not 'do by'.

Whenever I hear once person correct another. I wait for an opportunity to correct them in return, just as a reminder.

p.s. usually the Americans are so careful to ask how they pronounce your name- and all that I have met have been remarkably good at getting it. All, except Boehner ( Speaker of the House)- I guess he just told people to pronounce it that way.

Only when you learned Ancient Greek in an English-speaking country. In Germany it is not "Naiickey" but "Neekeh" - just ask Nike Wagner, the great-granddaughter of Richard W.
I'd assume that Ancient Greek is taught here with the same pronounciation of the "i" as in Germany, thus Swiss Germans should be saying "Neekeh". The fact that they don't is probably due to the global brand name of the sports apparel company, not due to their understanding of Ancient Greek.

I haven't seen so many blivets in such close company for a very, very, very l-o-n-g time, even by EF standards

That's true- why am I arguing about brand names anyway. I don't even care about them. I have just written a whole essay about how much I hate brand names. I should ask Ali G I am sure he is an expert. Anyway, a Hummer is a lobster in German - so maybe the advertisers changed it? This has changed my whole concept of a Hummer or lobster. I should tell my friend that he rides around in a lobster. I suppose both have an armoured shell, so there is some similarity. Well, people think that a Hummer has an armoured shell,- more like an amoured shell- he spends a long time waxing it.

Er, yeah. That's what I said.

This has to be the most pointless conversation in the entire history of the English Forum.

People say stuff differently. So what?

Tell you what, I'll answer that question when you tell me whether you are Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Norman, Viking or other, eh?

Hoppy - you don't see the contradiction and irony in what you have just written?

Now let me get this straight:

[´houmər] is US ['homə] is Swiss [ho ´meə] is correct? The latter being the proper Greek pronunciation of the author of the Iliad?

Our cat is called "Lollipop", but our Swiss neighbours pronounce it "Sucette".
Bally weird, I'll never understand the Romands.

(BTW we were Britsish before we ever became English)

You're Swiss, so stay out of it...

Only a wee bit of me...