How to Pronounce "properly"

linman6868 at aol.com linman6868 at aol.com
Sat Jul 7 16:29:57 UTC 2001


Amanda wrote:

I've found that pronunciation varies
> more with how "read" one is,  how long one spent in academia, and 
how
> arcane the word in question is. My reactions to varied 
pronunciations
> are mixed, since I'm anal and like things done correctly, but as a
> linguist I am striving to be descriptivist (except in the case of
> "nucular" and "real-a-tor," which are Big Ol' Push Buttons for me). 

Or "jaguire."  I'm an academic living in Oklahoma.  I was born in 
Texas, too, but I don't claim it; I figure Texas can take care of 
itself without my support.  :)

I wouldn't have known how to pronounce Hermione if I hadn't had a 
professor by that name.  She has a daughter in elementary school 
named for her, and they call her "Little H." at home.  I'm betting 
her life is either much better or much worse for having a famous 
character with her name.

Lisa I.





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