pronunciation is what's for breakfast

[wanttobeatree]

So how about that BARACK OBAMA. I have questions, I need answers! By which I mean, how the devil are you supposed to pronounce his name?



(Apologies for the terrible, terrible sound quality. I was whispering a little bit, so my housemates wouldn't think I was talking to myself.)

Here is, as promised, the link to the blog that brought this topic

Comments

[elizardbits]

Little-known fact: it is pronounced "CAPTAIN VON AWESOMEPANTS" actually.

[wanttobeatree]

CAPTAIN VON AWESOMEPANTS OBAMA?

[elizardbits]

... YES. YES IT IS.

[wanttobeatree]

SO DO PEOPLE CALL HIM CAPTAIN OR VON FOR SHORT?

[rionaleonhart]

I probably can't help with the name-pronunciation, but HERE IS AN EXCITING FACT FOR YOU: the maintainer of that blog is a Linguistics/English Language lecturer at my university.

POSSIBLY IT WAS NOT THAT EXCITING.

[wanttobeatree]

I FIND THAT RATHER EXCITING ACTUALLY. IS SHE COOL? You should tell her that her pronunciation guide re Barack's name is rather hard to follow if you aren't used to American vowel sounds.

[rionaleonhart]

She is all right? I don't know much about her personal coolness, as I haven't been taught by her that much, but certainly her blog is fascinating. And she once wore a scarf made of letters whilst giving a lecture. That was quite cool.

I think the main issue the entry talks about is putting the stress on the first syllable rather than the second, which isn't a problem you have, but I don't know whether your vowel sounds are correct.

[thehighwaywoman]

Alas, I has no voice recorder thingie, but it sounds like you're prounouncing it ba-RACK. Whereas it should be ba-ROCK. :D

Now watch me have screwed that up somehow myself /o\

Also, Grey Girl came running at the sound of your whispers. I do believe you have an American feline fan!

[wanttobeatree]

I discussed the difficulties of ba-ROCK over here for elizardbits (and also of ba-rawk. NEITHER OF WHICH SEEM RIGHT.)

here kitty kitty kitty 8D

[thehighwaywoman]

You sound like you're getting it right toward the end of that second audio clip.

Also, Grey Girl is now in an ecstasy of purrs. YOU ARE A CAT WHISPERER, TREE.

[wanttobeatree]

I think I have worked out how to say it now! It kind of rhymes with shark (at least as far as my pronunciation of shark is concerned /o\)

YESSS. NOW SHE IS MINE!

[certainthings]

I love your accent so much you sound so well, 'proper' and such and and so adorable and HOMG. I want to squish you. Uhm. Was that creepy? Perhaps a bit. *leaves* Terribly sorry.

[wanttobeatree]

Hahahaha you creepster. IT'S OKAY, I FORGIVE YOU CREEPY MCGEE. Most everyone on the internet seems to have the same reaction to hearing me speak. That is just how utterly charming I am.

[bridget_x_alena]

Um, I guess I pronounce it more like bah-RAHK, I think?

BUT THAT IS POSSIBLY WRONG.