Stop rolling your "r"s !!! (RANT)

Khrysty289

My fiance insists on "proper" pronunciation for all of these "ethnic" names he's finding.  Some of them are really cute, mind you.  But come on!  I don't feel like affecting an accent just to call my child by his/her name.

Why is it so hard to pronounce names in the accent you are currently using?  IDC that it's a Russian name, or Gaelic, or Spanish.  No one talking to this child is going to pronounce the name the way you want it!

/end rant

blush64

I would find it odd to use a really ethnic name unless it was a name from my own (or my husband's) culture.

myluckdragon2012

If that's how you feel, maybe you shouldn't be considering an ethnic name at all.

Khrysty289

blush64:

I would find it odd to use a really ethnic name unless it was a name from my own (or my husband's) culture.

 The way I hear them in my own head doesn't sound ethnic at all.  Then he speaks and ruins it lol

Khrysty289

myluckdragon2012:

If that's how you feel, maybe you shouldn't be considering an ethnic name at all.

 

Likely, they'll all get vetoed in the end, but they make the primaries if either of us like them.

kacelle

Inquiring minds must know: Is your name really Khrysty?

Khrysty289

kacelle:

Inquiring minds must know: Is your name really Khrysty?

 

Lol yes.  Pronounced just like Christie, or however the "normal" people spell it. Normally, my go-to excuse for the name is that my mom was 17 and didn't realize it would be insane to expect all of my teachers and employers to figure out how to spell/pronounce my name.  But now, looking at some of the names I'm choosing, I think she was just hoping she could be original too.

ames71

Khrysty289

ames17:

What?

zaramarie81

Hmm, I agree with pp's and recommend staying out of very ethnic name groups unless there is some family connection there. (Unless your hubby is pronouncing common names like Isabella with a Spanish accent, which I agree, is way over the top).

My hubby's family is Spanish-American. If we picked a distinctly Spanish name, it would be because of that family connection and we'd fully expect at least that side of the family to pronounce it that way (because that is what is most natural  - even for the members whose first language is American English).  But to be honest, we're steering away from ethnic names with a vastly different pronunciation in Spanish because our ln doesn't reflect that heritage, and it would just be a disconnect for most people.

pumpkinspice4321

What is an example of one of these ethnic names?

HannahO28

I am so confused. What names are you talking about? Why would it bother you that your FI wants to pronounce names the right way?

alehayes

I'm all for proper pronunciation, so I'm siding with your FI.  Unfortunately, most people in the US don't seem to care about proper pronunciation and butcher pretty much every foreign word they see.

Like, for example, I don't like the name Agnes.  It sounds harsh to me.  However, I LOVE the French pronunciation, which is Anhn-yes (there's an accent mark in the French version).  I would love to name my child that, and I would pronounce it the proper French way (because Agn?s is not Agnes and is not pronounced like Agnes), but everyone around here would call her Agnes, which I wouldn't like. So I won't use the name. 

I guess my point is that if you don't like the way a name is supposed to be pronounced, don't use it.  If your H doesn't like the way a name will be butchered, don't use it.  Find something you guys can compromise on that's pronounced properly.

Khrysty289

alohagirl77:

What is an example of one of these ethnic names?

Last night we were arguing over the name Jaime, as an example.  Roots are Spanish.  I would want to pronounce it Jay-mee.  He wants to pronounce it Hi-may

Khrysty289

zaramarie81:

(Unless your hubby is pronouncing common names like Isabella with a Spanish accent, which I agree, is way over the top).

 

..he is! Hence my frustration.  Even commonplace names that already have Americanized pronunciations, he wants to say with an accent. 

kacelle

Khrysty289:

alohagirl77:

What is an example of one of these ethnic names?

Last night we were arguing over the name Jaime, as an example.  Roots are Spanish.  I would want to pronounce it Jay-mee.  He wants to pronounce it Hi-may

That's how I pronounce it when I read it.  It's the last name of a family I know, and they pronounce it HI-meh. 

globetrotting7

Khrysty289:

My fiance insists on "proper" pronunciation for all of these "ethnic" names he's finding.  Some of them are really cute, mind you.  But come on!  I don't feel like affecting an accent just to call my child by his/her name.

Why is it so hard to pronounce names in the accent you are currently using?  IDC that it's a Russian name, or Gaelic, or Spanish.  No one talking to this child is going to pronounce the name the way you want it!

/end rant

There's nothing worse than a gringo accent to ruin a beautiful name like Jaime. I'm with your FI.  

MarisaKathleen

All I can think of is horrible Giada on Food Network.  I hate how she puts such a heavy emphasis on the Italian ingredients she works with.  Drives me bonkers.

I'm with you on this OP.

megs2011

MarisaKathleen:

All I can think of is horrible Giada on Food Network.  I hate how she puts such a heavy emphasis on the Italian ingredients she works with.  Drives me bonkers.

I'm with you on this OP.

::butting in:: OMG I feel the same way! Drives me nuts.

natalie7s19

Eh, I see both sides. I mean, if you're going to use an ethnic name, you should pronounce it the right way. But if there's an Americanized pronunciation (ie, the difference between how a normal English-speaker says spaghetti and the ridiculous way Giada says it) it's okay to use that, especially if you're using a name outside of your own ethnicity. 

If I used the name Genevieve, I would definitely pronounce it "JEN-uh-veev," even though I also love "zhahn-vee-EHV." The latter just isn't practical in the USA. 

zaramarie81

Khrysty289:

alohagirl77:

What is an example of one of these ethnic names?

Last night we were arguing over the name Jaime, as an example.  Roots are Spanish.  I would want to pronounce it Jay-mee.  He wants to pronounce it Hi-may

Yeah, when it comes to a name like Isabella (which in my understanding, has a legit English pronunciation), I totally agree with your annoyance! With Jaime, though, the primary spelling/origin/pronunciation is Spanish so I'd say the correct pronunciation is HIE-meh. Behindthename.com does list "Jay-mee" as a possible English pronunciation but catagorizes this spelling as female whereas Jaime is catagorized as male and the Spanish version of "James."

ETA: I also think there's a big difference between saying a name with fake accent (lol) and saying a name with a legit pronunciation! The former being super annoying.

Khrysty289

He affects an accent with each and every one.  I'm trying not to sound crazy here lol.  Certain names do have certain pronunciations, I get that.  But the voice actor in him comes out every time he sees an opportunity for an accent.

jez_girl

If you spell it "Jamie", the pronunciation would change, right? Maybe that's the way to go. Personally I'd prefer it as a nn for James. Is that a possibility, or will he say it "Ya-mez"?