Have you ever had an awkward incident in which you pronounce someone else's name wrong?Are you not sure how to figure it out?As long as you follow the steps outlined in this article, you'll be on your way to becoming an expert in the field of name pronunciation!
Step 1: Look at the name.
If you've seen it but not heard it, it can be helpful to just sound it out in your head.In turn, work with each syllable.Unless it's Welsh.Think of words that look similar to the name.The French letters q-u-i sound similar to the English word key.The name "Quitterie" would be pronounced key-tree just like the word "quiche" is.Sometimes city names can make you think.Think of other places like San Jose, Guadalajara, Lille, Versailles, and Guangzhou.
Step 2: Consider the beginning.
Does it look like France?Spanish?Chinese?Any prior knowledge of a language's alphabet and sounds will help you in your pronunciation.Spanish has a consistent alphabet.The vowels are pronounced "ah," "eh", "ee," and "oo."French has a fairly consistent alphabet, but it's a bit more difficult.Don't say the name ends in a letter."Robert" becomes a row-bear.And a name like that?It's mee-shell.It is still difficult to understand mandarin Chinese.The vowels "q", "X" and "Z" are pronounced ch.Choose the second letter's name if you're confused about "ei" and "ie" in German.The second letter of "Steinbeck" is "I."The second letter of "Auf Wiedersehen" is "E".
Step 3: accent marks and other diacritics should be taken into account.
They can change the way a name is said.Mara should be pronounced ma-ree-uh if you want to emphasize the accent.French doesn't follow the same rules.The sounds "" and "é" are different.The sound in red and ay are similar, though they are very similar.Renée, Honoré, and André are examples of this.The cedilla makes it soft, which is why the "" is the most frequently used character.
Step 4: Tone is indicated by diacritics.
Some tones are logical, even though this requires a familiarity with the language.A mark going down is usually a sign of a falling tone.Your tone should follow a mark going up and down.
Step 5: Ask around.
You're capable of this.Who is that guy we're working with on the etymology project again?Maybe your friends don't know.Don't be afraid to ask your own questions.People butcher their names all the time if you don't know."What's the native way of pronouncing your name?"To get them to say it correctly.They'll like that you're trying.
Step 6: Say it over and over again.
You have it once.Dale Carnegie said, "Remember that a person's name to that person is the sweetest and most important sound in any language."You have to repeat it seven times in your head.You will be more likely to remember the correct way to say it when you have it in your memory.A rhyme will help you remember if the pronunciation surprises you.
Step 7: Go online.
There are a few websites dedicated to this because the world has become such a global village.Pronounce names are useful tools to circumvent the wonder.