Is there really no wrong way to pronounce a name?

[pejhmon]

Yeah, my name's Pejhmon (Pe-jh-mon, I'm bad at typing phonetically when the english language prohibits me ). I don't expect people to pronounce it right because most people have never seen a "jh" together before and don't know how that sounds. I am, however, impressed when someone gets my name right first time. What I do hate though is when someone tries then gives up half way through and says some bullshit really far off the name itself as clarification that they cba to read it.

On a note, I have found that certain accents do prohibit certain pronunciations. Like people with Northern (England) accents can only really pronounce my name "Page-mun" which I have gotten used to since I know that I can't get much better out of them.

 

[Kortney]

Yes there are wrong ways to pronounce someone's name. I think it is rude and shows a lack of respect to mispronounce a person's name, especially when you should know better. Innocent mispronunciations are fine obviously, but everyone should strive to pronounce someone's name the way that person wishes them to.

If my name was Ana and it was to be pronounced "Ann-uh" and you kept calling my "Ay-nuh" I'd politely correct you. If you kept doing it I'd be annoyed and tell you it's not my name.

When the OP was referring to mispronouncing names, I think what he/she meant was the pronounciation of the word, not the pronounciation of a specific person's name. Example, if a couple wanted to name their child Samson, but wanted to have it pronounced same - son (rather than sahm - son), would they be wrong in doing so?

Sorry. I thought I was clearer than that. Let me try again.

If my name was Samson but it was pronounced Same-son and someone called me sahm-son I'd politely correct them. If they kept calling me sahm-son I'd stop hanging around then because they show disrespect to my name and how it's pronounced. Pretty simple.

 

[rabidmidget]

Yes there are wrong ways to pronounce someone's name. I think it is rude and shows a lack of respect to mispronounce a person's name, especially when you should know better. Innocent mispronunciations are fine obviously, but everyone should strive to pronounce someone's name the way that person wishes them to.

If my name was Ana and it was to be pronounced "Ann-uh" and you kept calling my "Ay-nuh" I'd politely correct you. If you kept doing it I'd be annoyed and tell you it's not my name.

When the OP was referring to mispronouncing names, I think what he/she meant was the pronounciation of the word, not the pronounciation of a specific person's name. Example, if a couple wanted to name their child Samson, but wanted to have it pronounced same - son (rather than sahm - son), would they be wrong in doing so?

Sorry. I thought I was clearer than that. Let me try again.

If my name was Samson but it was pronounced Same-son and someone called me sahm-son I'd politely correct them. If they kept calling me sahm-son I'd stop hanging around then because they show disrespect to my name and how it's pronounced. Pretty simple.

No, I understood what you were saying, it's rude to repeatedly mispronounce someone's name. What I was saying was that the OP is talking about whether names (again, not a specific person's name, but the word itself) have only one proper objective pronounciation, or if it can have almost any pronounciation deemed fit by the original giver of the name.

Note: this post isn't in an angry tone

 

[neoontime]

People say my name in three different ways but it never really mattered to me as long as they were actually talking to me and not just doing it for a joke that got old in second grade.

Also I like to add that I pronounce meme and hentai differently

 

[Ironrose]

there are absolutely wrong ways to pronounce names, Mine constantly gets mispronounced and I hate it. It makes me feel like people can't be bothered giving me the smallest bit of respect and just asking.

 

[Eri]

there are absolutely wrong ways to pronounce names, Mine constantly gets mispronounced and I hate it. It makes me feel like people can't be bothered giving me the smallest bit of respect and just asking.

There's only one way to say Maddie, I'm not sure how anyone can mess that up.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

If that's the case, I could say my name was Bobby, but it is pronounced Jason. Obviously, that would be wrong. You can't change how a language is pronounced just to suit your needs.

Everyone seems to have ignored this part.

If I verbally asked the man's name and he said Jason, I'd call him Jason. If it was written down and I read out his name as Bobby only to have him correct me by saying that it's actually pronounced Jason, I would do what anyone would do in that situation......I would give him a blank/confused stare.

I know it was a hypothetical situation, but I don't think a sane person would breach common sense so drastically in anything BUT a Hypothetical situation.

 

[Kortney]

Yes there are wrong ways to pronounce someone's name. I think it is rude and shows a lack of respect to mispronounce a person's name, especially when you should know better. Innocent mispronunciations are fine obviously, but everyone should strive to pronounce someone's name the way that person wishes them to.

If my name was Ana and it was to be pronounced "Ann-uh" and you kept calling my "Ay-nuh" I'd politely correct you. If you kept doing it I'd be annoyed and tell you it's not my name.

When the OP was referring to mispronouncing names, I think what he/she meant was the pronounciation of the word, not the pronounciation of a specific person's name. Example, if a couple wanted to name their child Samson, but wanted to have it pronounced same - son (rather than sahm - son), would they be wrong in doing so?

Sorry. I thought I was clearer than that. Let me try again.

If my name was Samson but it was pronounced Same-son and someone called me sahm-son I'd politely correct them. If they kept calling me sahm-son I'd stop hanging around then because they show disrespect to my name and how it's pronounced. Pretty simple.

No, I understood what you were saying, it's rude to repeatedly mispronounce someone's name. What I was saying was that the OP is talking about whether names (again, not a specific person's name, but the word itself) have only one proper objective pronounciation, or if it can have almost any pronounciation deemed fit by the original giver of the name.

Note: this post isn't in an angry tone

There is no such thing as a "proper objective pronunciation". Names and pro-nouns are different to nouns and adjectives. You can name your children anything and can make the pronunciation of that word whatever you want. I don't see how this is even an issue. I don't know anyone called Bobbed but spells their name Muhammad. It's not an issue. Usually, when first names are mispronounced it's because of differences in accent or alphabet. My real name is unpronounceable for 99.99% of the Western population so I didn't bother keeping it when I was in England. However, like I said, I do believe that everyone has the right to pronounce their name however they want - and other people should respect that, instead of saying "well, it's not objectively right because it's spelled with a B and should make a b sound!". I don't believe names are held to that structure.

Nouns aren't really held to that structure either. Especially in English. Pneumonia anyone?

 

[Ironrose]

there are absolutely wrong ways to pronounce names, Mine constantly gets mispronounced and I hate it. It makes me feel like people can't be bothered giving me the smallest bit of respect and just asking.

There's only one way to say Maddie, I'm not sure how anyone can mess that up.

Maddie is short for Madeleine (pronounced madi-lyn) But I get Mad-e-line a lot and it pisses me off to no end. I also get people calling me Madison, which I can only assume means they looked at the first 3 letters and didn't bother with the rest.

 

[Melian]

I never used to hear that name that often, and then all of the sudden three of them appeared in my life. Men hur fan kan man uttala det namnet fel?

Tänk, det har jag frågat mig själv också. Det är ett kort och koncist namn, trots det så blir det fel oftare än vad man tror. Min favorit är när folk försöker övertyga mig om att det ska vara Tova. "Visst, jag har nog sagt mitt namn fel hela mitt liv..."

 

[holy_secret]

I never used to hear that name that often, and then all of the sudden three of them appeared in my life. Men hur fan kan man uttala det namnet fel?

Tänk, det har jag frågat mig själv också. Det är ett kort och koncist namn, trots det så blir det fel oftare än vad man tror. Min favorit är när folk försöker övertyga mig om att det ska vara Tova. "Visst, jag har nog sagt mitt namn fel hela mitt liv..."

En från armén av Toveor (haha) är en Tova. Fan vad svårt det var att urskilja dem från början. Man hör ju knappt någon skillnad på fyllan ändå så

Något jag tycker är gulligt är när folk säger mitt efternamn med ett A som i Anna. Det låter så himla PK. Är det svårt att bara säga Bravo?

Ahm yes yes of course quite indeed *writes something in English to be kind to the Americans*

 

[Eri]

Yes there are wrong ways to pronounce someone's name. I think it is rude and shows a lack of respect to mispronounce a person's name, especially when you should know better. Innocent mispronunciations are fine obviously, but everyone should strive to pronounce someone's name the way that person wishes them to.

If my name was Ana and it was to be pronounced "Ann-uh" and you kept calling my "Ay-nuh" I'd politely correct you. If you kept doing it I'd be annoyed and tell you it's not my name.

When the OP was referring to mispronouncing names, I think what he/she meant was the pronounciation of the word, not the pronounciation of a specific person's name. Example, if a couple wanted to name their child Samson, but wanted to have it pronounced same - son (rather than sahm - son), would they be wrong in doing so?

Sorry. I thought I was clearer than that. Let me try again.

If my name was Samson but it was pronounced Same-son and someone called me sahm-son I'd politely correct them. If they kept calling me sahm-son I'd stop hanging around then because they show disrespect to my name and how it's pronounced. Pretty simple.

No, I understood what you were saying, it's rude to repeatedly mispronounce someone's name. What I was saying was that the OP is talking about whether names (again, not a specific person's name, but the word itself) have only one proper objective pronounciation, or if it can have almost any pronounciation deemed fit by the original giver of the name.

Note: this post isn't in an angry tone

There is no such thing as a "proper objective pronunciation". Names and pro-nouns are different to nouns and adjectives. You can name your children anything and can make the pronunciation of that word whatever you want. I don't see how this is even an issue. I don't know anyone called Bobbed but spells their name Muhammad. It's not an issue. Usually, when first names are mispronounced it's because of differences in accent or alphabet. My real name is unpronounceable for 99.99% of the Western population so I didn't bother keeping it when I was in England. However, like I said, I do believe that everyone has the right to pronounce their name however they want - and other people should respect that, instead of saying "well, it's not objectively right because it's spelled with a B and should make a b sound!". I don't believe names are held to that structure.

Nouns aren't really held to that structure either. Especially in English. Pneumonia anyone?

Silent letters really aren't the same thing. Even Japanese has plenty of silent U. Sasuke, Yuske, itadakimasu.

Like I said earlier, you can't change how a language is said to suit your needs. If your name was Bobby and wanted it pronounced Jason, and if I called you Bobby you'd get angry for disrespecting you, I'd say stop disrespecting the language. If there's really a certain name you want, change your name to it.

In your case however, Kortney is said the same regardless of C or K, so it wouldn't even matter.

 

[Archemetis]

I'm sure by watching, watching LRR videos people have noticed how they pronounce the name, Graham. While yes, culturally they're not pronouncing it wrong, it differs in a subtle way to the way English people pronounce.

I know, because I'm also a Graham.
I had a Canadian teacher in the last few years of upper school who'd obviously pronounce the name the way she thought it was pronounced.

It grated early on having my name pronounced as 'Graam' instead of the 'Greyem' I'm used to hearing.

But in time I just came to accept that some people just pronounce things differently, and I suppose there's nothing I can do about that.

 

[Laurie Barnes]

No, your name is pronounced however the hell you want it pronounced. Your name can be Lewis, and if you want it pronounced, "Kal-el", then that's your business, and totally your call to make.

 

[Melian]

En från armén av Toveor (haha) är en Tova. Fan vad svårt det var att urskilja dem från början. Man hör ju knappt någon skillnad på fyllan ändå så

Något jag tycker är gulligt är när folk säger mitt efternamn med ett A som i Anna. Det låter så himla PK. Är det svårt att bara säga Bravo?

Ahm yes yes of course quite indeed *writes something in English to be kind to the Americans*

Men det är enorm skillnad på Tove och Tova! Tove är ju hundra gånger finare! XD
Väldigt svenskt att försöka säga namn på rätt sätt, men att misslyckas fatalt på grund av att det ska vara så korrekt... ^^

Very much so yes! *very important to be kind to english-speakers* XD

 

[Fetzenfisch]

I now have to go by the name Blaze simply because Americans are too stupid to pronounce my name correctly. It is Blas, with the -a sounding like -ah, not BLAZ or BLAISE or (I shit you not!) BLOOSE!

And yes, it is only people born and raised in America. Never met a foreigner who didn't get my name on the first try.

hehe dont wanna offend but Blas is the spanish form of the french name BLAISE (^^) originating in the roman Blasius/Blaesus meaning "lisping"



My name is Dennis no one got problems with that, well my turkish pal named the same is stressed on the last syllable and i am on the first, but i dont really care.

Some American's thought my name was Sam. It's Liam. I was pretty offended by that. Also the fact that god knows how many Americans claim to have Irish decent and didn't even know how to spell it.

"L-I-A-M"
"Dude, how do you even pronounce that"

That hurts.

really you can mispronounce Liam? I could understand if it was Muiris or Ruairi to stay at my example Donnacadh, but Liam? Its not that rare or complicated.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Some American's thought my name was Sam. It's Liam. I was pretty offended by that. Also the fact that god knows how many Americans claim to have Irish decent and didn't even know how to spell it.

"L-I-A-M"
"Dude, how do you even pronounce that"

That hurts.

There's nothing wrong with Sam. It's a name that has served me well for 28+ years now. However, I'm not sure why Liam is difficult for some people, Liam Neeson, anyone?

What gets me is people thinking there's a "d" in Hancock. I'm American and John Hancock is famous for signing the Declaration of Independence in a large way, as well as "your John Hancock" being a euphemism for signature. That crappy Will Smith movie raised some awareness of proper spelling, but I still get Handcock from a lot of people.

 

[Angstysquirrel]

My name gets mispronounced even by native speakers. Apparently it's hard to say, something I've never quite understood. And don't even get me started on english speakers! ^^ My name is Tove (yes it's a girls' name) and it's pronounced with long ooo's (as in Tooove) with a hard emphazis on the v. Everyone and their mother pronounce it like Toh-ve or simply Tohv, which sounds retarded. Oh, the joys of a rare name.

That is because technically they are right. In the english language, when a consonant is between a vowel and an 'e' (where the 'e' comes after) the vowel sound is changed from the short to the long.
For example the words mat/mate. The 'a' changes sound because of the 'e' at the end.

The only reason I single this out, is because my last name 'Huber' is always, and I do mean always, pronounced 'Hubber' the first time. It's a german name, but the spelling should give an indication of how to pronounce it... Not even my german teacher got it right the first time

In response to the OP: Yes there is a wrong way to pronounce a name. If it is spelled one way, but you pronounce it another, then you are wrong.
However, names are a person-to-person thing. I could spell out Cockburn, and people would probably say what it says. However it is pronounced Coh-burn.

 

[holy_secret]

En från armén av Toveor (haha) är en Tova. Fan vad svårt det var att urskilja dem från början. Man hör ju knappt någon skillnad på fyllan ändå så

Något jag tycker är gulligt är när folk säger mitt efternamn med ett A som i Anna. Det låter så himla PK. Är det svårt att bara säga Bravo?

Ahm yes yes of course quite indeed *writes something in English to be kind to the Americans*

Men det är enorm skillnad på Tove och Tova! Tove är ju hundra gånger finare! XD
Väldigt svenskt att försöka säga namn på rätt sätt, men att misslyckas fatalt på grund av att det ska vara så korrekt... ^^

Very much so yes! *very important to be kind to english-speakers* XD

Du vet hur svenskar är...Politisk korrekthet och Lagom går hand i hand

My name gets mispronounced even by native speakers. Apparently it's hard to say, something I've never quite understood. And don't even get me started on english speakers! ^^ My name is Tove (yes it's a girls' name) and it's pronounced with long ooo's (as in Tooove) with a hard emphazis on the v. Everyone and their mother pronounce it like Toh-ve or simply Tohv, which sounds retarded. Oh, the joys of a rare name.

That is because technically they are right. In the english language, when a consonant is between a vowel and an 'e' (where the 'e' comes after) the vowel sound is changed from the short to the long.
For example the words mat/mate. The 'a' changes sound because of the 'e' at the end.

The only reason I single this out, is because my last name 'Huber' is always, and I do mean always, pronounced 'Hubber' the first time. It's a german name, but the spelling should give an indication of how to pronounce it... Not even my german teacher got it right the first time

In response to the OP: Yes there is a wrong way to pronounce a name. If it is spelled one way, but you pronounce it another, then you are wrong.
However, names are a person-to-person thing. I could spell out Cockburn, and people would probably say what it says. However it is pronounced Coh-burn.

As a German speaker, I would pronounce it "Hoobeer"
Do that British not-pronouncing-the-R thingy to the R at the end and you'll get an idea of how it's pronounced by me.
Is it correct?

 

[Angstysquirrel]

-snip-
As a German speaker, I would pronounce it "Hoobeer"
Do that British not-pronouncing-the-R thingy to the R at the end and you'll get an idea of how it's pronounced by me.
Is it correct?

By my way of pronuciation, I don't think so.
I pronounce it 'Hue-bur'. Hue as in colors and bur as in being cold.