tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post1182873252100805132..comments2024-03-22T23:27:47.349+00:00Comments on EAGLETON NOTES: On Pronunciation of NamesGraham Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-86959649093690663362015-12-06T08:09:04.366+00:002015-12-06T08:09:04.366+00:00I think, Kay, that I probably come across more unp...I think, Kay, that I probably come across more unpronounceable words (for me) in non-fiction than I do in fiction.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-6822769935970752852015-12-05T23:24:38.712+00:002015-12-05T23:24:38.712+00:00I am a bit tickled to see the comment from Jenny W...I am a bit tickled to see the comment from Jenny Woolf above, since I do the same thing, just skip over the names and this is in just about any novel, not just Russian ones! This is why I prefer non fiction, I suppose.Kay G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07228498846814735537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-71604012159923462492015-12-05T11:04:23.157+00:002015-12-05T11:04:23.157+00:00Jenny after all that I've read in the comments...Jenny after all that I've read in the comments I'm beginning to wonder whether I did find Russian names so relatively straightforward or whether I was kidding myself.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-54642640977791949522015-12-05T10:17:03.104+00:002015-12-05T10:17:03.104+00:00I sort of skip over the names when I read Russian ...I sort of skip over the names when I read Russian novels (which I admit I have not done for many years). So, if called upon to pronounce any of the names I am sure I would be at a loss, since they are only a sort of mumble in my mind! Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-23291798421217160122015-12-04T20:56:32.563+00:002015-12-04T20:56:32.563+00:00I concede. Only your spelling AND punctuation.I concede. Only your spelling AND punctuation.Marcelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859972397663662509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-46122144564743059372015-12-04T18:50:20.134+00:002015-12-04T18:50:20.134+00:00Ah Marcel this is more a question of whether there...Ah Marcel this is more a question of whether there should be a comma before an 'and'. The sentence could read Frances [to whom the comment is addressed] , Ezra has a z......Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-39994282275266703822015-12-04T17:33:43.821+00:002015-12-04T17:33:43.821+00:00Have a Z. Blimey, spelling AND grammar have de...Have a Z. Blimey, spelling AND grammar have deserted you.Marcelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859972397663662509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-63725257457293830602015-12-04T12:51:32.313+00:002015-12-04T12:51:32.313+00:00Lee whatever else you may be (that I don't kno...Lee whatever else you may be (that I don't know of) you are certainly not dumb. After all how many of us who don't watch Strictly Come Dancing could pronounce <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alja%C5%BE_Skorjanec" rel="nofollow">Aljaz Skorjanec</a>.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-7458136156397782932015-12-04T12:46:05.811+00:002015-12-04T12:46:05.811+00:00Virginia I suppose we all do the best we can and e...Virginia I suppose we all do the best we can and even if we think we've got the Russian names right perhaps a Russian would still look perplexed. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-14284800423500948172015-12-03T22:44:18.731+00:002015-12-03T22:44:18.731+00:00I've read many Russian novels, too...but not o...I've read many Russian novels, too...but not out loud. Reading them to myself I have no problems with the pronunciations of their names...but I would and do if having to say them out loud...even remembering them all is difficult enough!<br /><br />Perhaps I am the dumb one in the crowd, after all!Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15835982875620956300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-76030315860358256372015-12-03T22:33:51.271+00:002015-12-03T22:33:51.271+00:00I do the best I can with name pronunciation....hav...I do the best I can with name pronunciation....having my French background comes in quite handy sometimes....not for the Russian though!!!VirginiaChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17282569773671179047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-74791740790191616542015-12-03T18:51:18.588+00:002015-12-03T18:51:18.588+00:00Frances and Ezra has a Z which, I think scores 10....Frances and Ezra has a Z which, I think scores 10. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-73674945491770540112015-12-03T13:51:47.390+00:002015-12-03T13:51:47.390+00:00But just think what high scores you would get if y...But just think what high scores you would get if you were allowed to use names in Scrabble. The Russians and East Europeans would be winners. Mind you, Jane at least as a J (scores 8).Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-82865444071001040962015-12-03T12:50:49.794+00:002015-12-03T12:50:49.794+00:00Well spotted YP. My ability as a checker of prose ...Well spotted YP. My ability as a checker of prose leaves a lot to be desired.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-27945943555883695442015-12-03T12:49:54.375+00:002015-12-03T12:49:54.375+00:00Helen I think you've hit the nail on the head....Helen I think you've hit the nail on the head. I'm good at Russian names in my head but whether I'd pass muster in Russia is a different matter.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-29780039824547165492015-12-03T12:48:01.060+00:002015-12-03T12:48:01.060+00:00Meike (and I would venture to say that I hope that...Meike (and I would venture to say that I hope that I would pronounce your name correctly for two reasons: my first close German friends were named Feist and you told me how to pronounce yours many moons ago!) I think the thing about the German language is that it usually has rules. English has rules including the very important one that where a word is apparently subject to a rule of pronunciation then that rule probably doesn't apply. English has to be one of the most illogical languages there is. I am not by nature and envious person but I really do envy you your knowledge of and ability with languages.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-68315856963880874942015-12-03T12:40:54.525+00:002015-12-03T12:40:54.525+00:00Adrian there as so much red underlining that I eve...Adrian there as so much red underlining that I even ignored the misspelling of Chairman so assiduously spotted by YP.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-65549695063727705482015-12-03T12:39:34.895+00:002015-12-03T12:39:34.895+00:00Welsh shouldn't be a problem for me either Cro...Welsh shouldn't be a problem for me either Cro given my upbringing in Liverpool and the time I spent in Wales but the name in the header is Scots Gaelic and the pronunciation varies from township to township and, I suspect, would be very different if pronounced in Irish Gaelic. I am unaware of anyone on the Island whether a native English or Gaelic speaker who uses the name Baile na h-Iolaire (Town of the Eagle) in its Gaelic form.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-48430837098803773932015-12-03T12:34:17.996+00:002015-12-03T12:34:17.996+00:00Diane given the name of your blog (which I really ...Diane given the name of <a href="http://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.co.uk" rel="nofollow">your blog</a> (which I really must start commenting upon) you obviously are well 'before'. My memory has never ever been good enough to do what you do. I'd forget the new name instantly.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-29446319323830063742015-12-03T12:30:41.047+00:002015-12-03T12:30:41.047+00:00You are probably correct Mrs Thyme. On top of that...You are probably correct Mrs Thyme. On top of that there is our individual ability with languages and accents. I have a neutral English accent and have very little ability to speak with either the accent of the City in which I was born not the accent of the place where I have spent most of my life. I think that may be because my accent was 'taught' rather more than it was natural. Our son on the other hand is completely chameleonic and speaks naturally with the accent relevant to those around him - even in the same conversation.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-64854531580403169342015-12-03T12:25:53.176+00:002015-12-03T12:25:53.176+00:00Red I'd be struggling with Mehaffey!Red I'd be struggling with Mehaffey!Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-1724761076540821082015-12-03T12:25:14.277+00:002015-12-03T12:25:14.277+00:00Gosh Monica I'd never thought of that. I'v...Gosh Monica I'd never thought of that. I've seen Tchaikovsky spelt various ways but I had not considered it as a problem because I'm not fluent enough in any other language to have been reading any Russian novels in any language other than English. Mind you I read an American translation of The Gulag Archipelago when it was first published and that was quite a revelation particularly as it was written in what I thought was 'my' language.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-87599836654071193142015-12-03T11:52:24.712+00:002015-12-03T11:52:24.712+00:00I hate to ask this but what exactly is a "Cha...I hate to ask this but what exactly is a "Chariman"? May we assume that his role was to make the "char" - rather like a charwoman?Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-13752652801407135062015-12-03T10:12:23.617+00:002015-12-03T10:12:23.617+00:00Oh I absolutely love Russian names and have rarely...Oh I absolutely love Russian names and have rarely had any difficulty pronouncing or remembering them, but then like you I've read a lot of Russian novels (many of which were your copy). Saying that, I once read an article on Russian pronunciation and realised I'd often been stressing the wrong syllables (e.g., it's Vlah-DEE-meer rather than VLAH-dih-meer, Ob-LOH-mov rather than OB-la-mov). I guess I'm okay as long as I don't have to discuss the names with a Russian person!<br /><br />I do find Georgian names (particularly surnames) more tricky though.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-24686798728265762042015-12-03T06:28:47.324+00:002015-12-03T06:28:47.324+00:00Sorry, too many typing errors in first attempt - t...Sorry, too many typing errors in first attempt - that's when I try to comment before I have had my first coffee...!!<br /><br />Pronounciationn-wise, German is a nicely neutral language. When it comes to names of people or places in other languages, I've never had a problem with those, no matter whether I speak the language or not. OK, Polish is a bit more difficult with its tendency to have many consonants one after the other without any vocals between them. But if I give myself enough time to read them properly and form them in my head before saying them out loud, I manage those, too. Some African languages are a bit challenging for the sheer length of their names, and Hindi names (and other languages spoken on the Indian subcontinent) aren't the easiest, either.<br />But you won't be surprised to hear that I love those differences and challenges, and find true delight in learning words (and how to pronounce them correctly!) in another language.<br />My first name, Meike, seems simple enough, doesn't it? And yet even though I've repeated it often, there are still some of my Yorkshire relatives who don't get it right. Never mind - they love me and I love them, and that's what counts.Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com