05-08-2011, 12:53 PM | #1 |
Wizard
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Pronunciation of foreign/unusual names in books
Do you try to learn the correct pronunciation of names in books if the author has provided a pronunciation guide?
I just now realised - while practicing pronunciation of names in a scifi novel - that in a way it really doesn't matter how I pronounce the names, as it's all in my head anyway. But until now, I've always spent some efforts in taking note of how names (and words) are pronounced and to learn it properly. I guess it's because it's my nature to make an effort to do things correctly and right - funny that I've never questioned this particular expression of it before What about you? Ever make the effort of getting the pronunciation right and why? Or why not? |
05-08-2011, 01:09 PM | #2 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Nope. Weird personal names just appear to me as whole glyphs, shapes, or avatars... not even individual letters. I have no need to pronounce them. They just serve as visual cues for who's speaking/being spoken about. If there's even the slightest question on pronunciation... I just gloss right over it and keep on going.
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05-08-2011, 01:25 PM | #3 |
use the force
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i do the same. i gloss over quickly if i know who's speaking. usually i have voices that i tend to give to everyone and whenever they speak that voice takes over in my head.
i usually sound out the names phonetically and go from there. the real pronunciation has no effect on the story for me. |
05-08-2011, 01:40 PM | #4 |
ebookworm
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If I can't pronounce it, I don't worry about it. Unless I have to read it out loud for some reason.
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05-08-2011, 01:52 PM | #5 |
Wizzard
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If the name looks totally ridiculous (short on vowels and full of j,k,q-without-u,x,y,z and apostrophes and random capitalization), I assign it the most ridiculous-sounding pronunciation possible based on the underlying phonetics. I figure it's the least I can do.
If it looks reasonable but unusual like a possible spelling variant of a real name, then if the author/in-story-culture seems to have influences from any real-world Earth culture, then I use the phonetics of that language if they seem to fit. E.g., a fake French-medievalish fantasy world which calls its people Roleynd and Yssulte and so forth would get fake French pronunciation rules attached. But mostly I tend to skim over anything which isn't immediately "obvious" anyway. |
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05-08-2011, 02:03 PM | #6 |
Old Git
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If you read foreign-language books in translation, most of the proper names are likely to be difficult and most of make laughable attempts at pronunciation. I laughed my head off when I heard the typical American pronunciation of "van Gogh", but the British variant is hardly better. If you hear a Dutch person say it you may not even recognise it.
I listen regularly to British and French classical music radio and most of the announcers murder the names of each other's composers and performers. I assume their attempts at names in languages I don't speak are equally ridiculous. |
05-08-2011, 02:06 PM | #7 |
Wizard
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But that's where I think that one can at least try
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05-08-2011, 02:42 PM | #8 | |
Guru
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05-08-2011, 05:34 PM | #9 |
It's about the umbrella
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If the name is obviously something that I think is made up, I will try to pronounce it and just settle on something close.
If the name/place is in another language, then I try a translate with a listen feature (like google translate). I make sure the language is selected correctly and then listen to how it is pronounced. If I can't say it, then I just use what comes close for me. I don't know how well that really works, but it has done well (on ones that I do know). |
05-08-2011, 05:40 PM | #10 | |
sleepless reader
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Interesting idea. I'll have to give it a try. |
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05-08-2011, 07:38 PM | #11 | |
Omnivorous
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One of the books I'm currently reading is "Hounded" by Kevin Hearne. The tale of an ancient Celtic Druid in modern day Arizona.
Mr. Hearne provides a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book for the Celtic names, but adds: Quote:
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05-08-2011, 11:56 PM | #12 |
Wizard
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Nope. If I stumble over it more than a couple of times I mentally substitute something close but obviously incorrect. Some authors seems to do it out of malice aforethought, lol. I'm thinking of Iain M. Banks, as happen to be reading Against a Dark Background.
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05-09-2011, 01:16 AM | #13 | |
Wizard
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05-09-2011, 01:24 AM | #14 |
Information Acquirer
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Imagine me as a Norwegian native-speaking 10 year-old tried to figure out how to pronounce Mister Mxyztplk. (Still, I continued read "Superman" for another 3-4 years).
Generally, I try to pronounce the (mostly foreign) names as I think the author intended, but when encountering names such as a few of those fabricated by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, I'll admit I just "see" the name written and jump to the next word in line. |
05-09-2011, 02:35 AM | #15 | |
Samurai Lizard
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Quote:
Returning to topic, when it comes to pronouncing unusual names that I'm not familiar with I just follow standard english phonetics. If I later come across the proper way to say a name (such as with a manga that I later see as anime), then I follow that. |
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