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Keep in mind that we Americans are surrounded by native Spanish-speakers, especially in California (where I live) and other southwestern states. If someone introduces himself as Jose, it would be downright disrespectful to refer to him as "Josie." And if you pronounce the town, La Jolla, with the English J sound (and the English L), no one will know what place you are talking about.
Keep in mind that we Americans are surrounded by native Spanish-speakers, especially in California (where I live) and other southwestern states. If someone introduces himself as Jose, it would be downright disrespectful to refer to him as "Josie." And if you pronounce the town, La Jolla, with the English J sound (and the English L), no one will know what place you are talking about.
Yeah I agree I could see how someone would be offended but in our defence it's not malicious or taking the p it's just the way we read it or it comes out.
If we meet someone and they introduced themselves as so and so then we would pronounce it that way as its polite.
Plus usually if we say it wrong the said person usually corrects us and all good from there
Oh, definitely. No one can be blamed for reading an unfamiliar name or foreign word in print, and then pronouncing it wrong. Of course the well-mannered will take correction graciously and try to remember the right pronunciation from then on.
I believe what the OP was saying, however, is that the Spanish J isn't exactly like the English H, and therefore it is nonsensical to pronounce it as an H. But that is exactly what all people everywhere do with foreign words--they adjust the sounds they can't say properly, to the nearest native equivalent.
MITCH-igan (Should be MISH-igan)
MARY-land (Should be Mare-a-lund)
I guess this fits in with the Spanish pronunciation theme, but it always perplexes me when I hear Brits pronounce Las Vegas as LASS Vegas. I would expect them to pronounce it just like they would "last", minus the "t", but instead it comes out like an American saying "last", minus the "t".
What's the deal with sixth being pronounced as sickth by many British announcers? None of my British friends seem to pronounce it that way.
Spanish J us very close to English H. Not exact but close st of any other sounds. So it's correct to pronounce Juanita as "Hoo-uh-neeta" because "Joo'eyneeteh" is silly and would only make her angry. And you don't want to make a Hispanic woman angry.
Oh, definitely. No one can be blamed for reading an unfamiliar name or foreign word in print, and then pronouncing it wrong. Of course the well-mannered will take correction graciously and try to remember the right pronunciation from then on.
I believe what the OP was saying, however, is that the Spanish J isn't exactly like the English H, and therefore it is nonsensical to pronounce it as an H. But that is exactly what all people everywhere do with foreign words--they adjust the sounds they can't say properly, to the nearest native equivalent.
Great assessment and I agree
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ummagumma
Spanish J us very close to English H. Not exact but close st of any other sounds. So it's correct to pronounce Juanita as "Hoo-uh-neeta" because "Joo'eyneeteh" is silly and would only make her angry. And you don't want to make a Hispanic woman angry.
Yes I've known a Colombian lady before....... 😱
Quote:
Originally Posted by DerpyDerp
Stuff I hear all the time on BBC, etc:
MITCH-igan (Should be MISH-igan)
MARY-land (Should be Mare-a-lund)
I guess this fits in with the Spanish pronunciation theme, but it always perplexes me when I hear Brits pronounce Las Vegas as LASS Vegas. I would expect them to pronounce it just like they would "last", minus the "t", but instead it comes out like an American saying "last", minus the "t".
What's the deal with sixth being pronounced as sickth by many British announcers? None of my British friends seem to pronounce it that way.
It's funny but I watch Spanish football on telly and the presenter tries to pronounce the players names in Spanish.... To a Brit at times it sounds funny but good , but I've watched it with a spaniard and he burst out laughing saying " what the hell was that! "
It think it's just dialect from different parts of the country with " sickth " for example when i say milk it sounds like " melk " or girl sounds like " gel " ..... If you see?
So it's correct to pronounce Juanita as "Hoo-uh-neeta" because "Joo'eyneeteh" is silly and would only make her angry. And you don't want to make a Hispanic woman angry.
It's more like "hwa-neeta," but your point is well taken.
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