I'd like to be respectful to the person, which includes trying to honor the way they prefer having their name pronounced. Emigration means many risks but also the chance to re-define oneself, and that may include the family name. Besides, after generations a person may be fully detached from the cultures their ancestors once originated from.
True, but what about people who never emigrated, but whose names are still being "americanized"?
Maybe now we can sort out André Previn (or is it Prévin?), too.
Anyone who watched Morecambe & Wise in TV in Britain in the 1970s knows that the correct pronunciation of André Previn's surname is "Preview".
I recall Previn's 1974 Parkinson interview (some time after his M&W appearance) during which the composer made the following remark: "Thank God Morecambe and Wise didn't know that the original pronunciation of my surname is "prune"...
As I'm reading this I'm listening to Destination Moon, which raises the question is the "ei" in Leith Stevens pronounced like an "a", an "e" or an "i"?
As I'm reading this I'm listening to Destination Moon, which raises the question is the "ei" in Leith Stevens pronounced like an "a", an "e" or an "i"?
What about Brett Favre. How does one get FAR-VE from FAV-RE. Of Jonathan Toews of the Chicago BlackHawks. It's pronounced Tays like Days. Or Bruce Cockburn. Koe-Burn... really?
-Erik-
Cockburn's pronunciation is easy for me to remember after listening to a recording of the Leornard Bernstein-Alan Jay Lerner musical "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." A British military officer of that name sings at one point, "Spelled C-O-C-K, but only half the cock is used."
As I'm reading this I'm listening to Destination Moon, which raises the question is the "ei" in Leith Stevens pronounced like an "a", an "e" or an "i"?
"Leeth".
I think he was joking. 'Leith' is a Scottish name. And the seaport of Edinburgh.
I think on the Starship Troopers DVD comentary, he introduces himself as Basil Poli-duris. It's been a while since I've heard it, but that's how I've "read" his name ever since.
I've got a good one. Anyone know how to pronounce "Wojciech Kilar"? Love his music and I feel like a schmuck that I can't say his name correctly.
I think I heard somewhere that it was "Why-check Key-lar"
While in school many years ago I had a friend with the first name "Wojciech" and he pronounced it: Voy-Teck But I am not sure if there are not different ways to pronounce within Poland. Also: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojciech