Plurals, faux-Latin and other terribly important rubbish

[jrandom]

So how do you pronounce it? Sower? Sayer? Sawa? Sow?

Sower. Like 'sour' but with a more wubbleyewy sound in the middle if you're going to get pedantic about it.

[Drunken Monkey]

as in Sauerkraut..., or Bauer.

Being of germanic (ie Swiss) in origin (SIG Arms AG, that is, not necessarily JRandom!)

Granted sometimes there are regional differences. I've heard Moet is actually pronounced 'mo-ette', not 'mo-ay' as it comes from the region near Switzerland (never been able to verify that one).

[bungbung]

Or Subaru trying to educate the public's pronunciation to 'soobaroo' instead of 'sa baroo'

[jrandom]

Being of germanic (ie Swiss) in origin (SIG Arms AG, that is, not necessarily JRandom!)

Me too. Paternal family is ex Frankfurt, although I was born in Auckland and have never bothered to get an EU passport. Not even sure if I still can.

[MikeL]

Peter, David and Michael. Even then, the kids found it difficult to spell their middle names. Perhaps we could have managed without those...

And I thought my parents were the most unoriginal in the world:
4 boys: John, Michael, Peter, David.
And they didn't bother with middle names, either...

[Drunken Monkey]

Or Subaru trying to educate the public's pronunciation to 'soobaroo' instead of 'sa baroo'

Because the word IS Soo-boo-roo, not Soo-baaa-roo (that's the sheep in the NZ'er talking, there...). This is the only country in the world you'll hear "Subaaaru".

And Madza is 'Mazuda', as the 'z' character is supposed to be pronounced 'zu' in Japanese.

Although in the end, is it really that wrong to anglicise a word or name?

[Ghost Lemur]

My sons' are Danté and Sebastian. Original (or uncommon) but not difficult to spell. Best of both worlds I figured. I couldn't have named them bob, jack, etc.

They are my son's after all, so I think being teased about their names (which hasn't happened yet - aged 3 and 2) is the least of their worries.

[MikeL]

And continuing the theme of Asian variations on the English language, it's fascinating to look at the English names some of my Chinese students give themselves. I think the most original i've come across is Squall. Others include Dawn (for a boy), Shiny, Flame, Milo, Imily ("That's Emily, right?" "No, Imily...")

[vifferman]

Because the word IS Soo-boo-roo, not Soo-baaa-roo (that's the sheep in the NZ'er talking, there...). This is the only country in the world you'll hear "Subaaaru".

OK, time to put on my pedantrist's hat. Or put on my pedantist's hat.
It's spelled "Subaru", pronounced "Soo-ba-roo", and is the Japanese name for the Pleiades constellation, and is made by Fuji Heavy Industries (the car that is, not the star constellation..)

And Madza is 'Mazuda', as the 'z' character is supposed to be pronounced 'zu' in Japanese.

Mazda's not a Japanese word, but Greek (IIRC) and means summat like "peak" (as of a mountain). Or summit. Or summat. Or not.
But the Jap's can pronouncicate it however the phark they like.

Although in the end, is it really that wrong to anglicise a word or name?

Nup. Pedantrists may disagree...

[riffer]

Because the word IS Soo-boo-roo, not Soo-baaa-roo (that's the sheep in the NZ'er talking, there...). This is the only country in the world you'll hear "Subaaaru".

Actually I heard once that it was the Australians that started Subaaaru.

Subaru's were originally brought in to Aussie first, then onsold here.

The Australians thought Subaru sounded too much like Kangaroo, and deliberately changed the sound in case it stopped people buying the cars.

Could be urban legend, who knows?

Cool cars though. I loved my GT-B.

[vifferman]

And continuing the theme of Asian variations on the English language, it's fascinating to look at the English names some of my Chinese students give themselves.

From the "Book of Olde English Names From Several Hundred Years Ago, That Sound Kewl to Our Ears, But Weird to English-Type Peoples"?
Like Mildred, Edwin, Cedric, Gertrude....

[Drunken Monkey]

(ouch, 4 posts in as many seconds...THIS goes on from MikeL's post: -)

It used to follow some basic rules around the old forms of common English names, ie the Chinese symbols which make the name pronounced 'Yue Han', is the common name John (from Johan) - which also happens to be the most common Chinese name, ie Yue Han Li (or is that Li Yue Han?), or 'John Lee'.
I think Chinese kids these days just make them up...

[Drunken Monkey]

It's spelled "Subaru", pronounced "Soo-ba-roo", and is the Japanese name for the Pleiades constellation, and is made by Fuji Heavy Industries (the car that is, not the star constellation..)

Uh, yeah. The extra oo's were just for emphasis...

'...it's more guttural than that...Aaaarrrggghhh'

'No, "ooo" as in surprise or alarm'

'Look! It's the great black beast of...aaarrrrggghhh!!!!'

'rrroooaaaaarrrr!!!!!'

Mazda's not a Japanese word, but Greek (IIRC) and means summat like "peak" (as of a mountain). Or summit. Or summat. Or not.
But the Jap's can pronouncicate it however the phark they like.

Oh, well in the context of a Japanese car manufacturer, it's as good as Japanese - as per your last comment.

Nup. Pedantrists may disagree...

Golly. What does one say to that?

[vifferman]

Uh, yeah. The extra oo's were just for emphasis...

'...it's more guttural than that...Aaaarrrggghhh'

'No, "ooo" as in surprise or alarm'

'Look! It's the great black beast of...aaarrrrggghhh!!!!'

'rrroooaaaaarrrr!!!!!'

Very good, Mr Monkey.

[DEATH_INC.]

I don't think any would argue with Nissans naming of the mighty 'Escargo'.....