Names in English with counterintuitive pronunciation

[Sylph]

A very amusing list!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_names_in_English_with_counterintuitive_pronunciations

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Hm, I didn't see "Rafe" in there (as in Vaughan Williams). Maybe he was the only one?

[Wendell_E]

Hm, I didn't see "Rafe" in there (as in Vaughan Williams). Maybe he was the only one?

Don't forget Ralph (Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-)Fiennes.  At the Tony Awards a few years back, a presenter managed to mispronounce both his names.

[Sylph]

Hm, I didn't see "Rafe" in there (as in Vaughan Williams). Maybe he was the only one?

It's free to edit.

[Sylph]

Don't forget Ralph (Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-)Fiennes.  At the Tony Awards a few years back, a presenter managed to mispronounce both his names.

That one is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes

[The new erato]

Hm, I didn't see "Rafe" in there (as in Vaughan Williams). Maybe he was the only one?

It's not English. It's Welsh!

[Sylph]

It's not English. It's Welsh!

Pronunciation dictionaries indicate that in American English it's pronounced rælf (using the respelling scheme: ralf) and reɪf (respelling: rayf) in British English.

[karlhenning]

Pronunciation dictionaries indicate that in American English it's pronounced rælf (using the respelling scheme: ralf) and reɪf (respelling: rayf) in British English.

Well, but if it had really been that simple, we shouldn't have the story of the Englishwoman who asked the composer whether she should call him "Ralph" or "Rafe" ("My dear lady, you may call me Dr Williams," I think was the reply).

Thread duty: Haverhill, Massachusetts

[Sylph]

Well, but if it had really been that simple, we shouldn't have the story of the Englishwoman who asked the composer whether she should call him "Ralph" or "Rafe" ("My dear lady, you may call me Dr Williams," I think was the reply).

Thread duty: Haverhill, Massachusetts

The composer is always rayf. I forgot to mention that my post was referring to the name Ralph in general.

Haverill is listed. As HAYV-(ə)r-il.

[Florestan]

Not names, but related to pronunciation: how do you pronounce the termination of the days of the week, -deɪ  or -di ? My English teacher 25 years ago insisted it should be the latter, but I've noticed that the former is rather usual, too. So, which is which?

[karlhenning]

The composer is always rayf.

Yes, understood.

I forgot to mention that my post was referring to the name Ralph in general.

Which is why I mentioned the story.  If Rayf were a universal British pronunciation, that lady would not have had a question to ask, right?

[karlhenning]

Not names, but related to pronunciation: how do you pronounce the termination of the days of the week, -deɪ  or -di ? My English teacher 25 years ago insisted it should be the latter, but I've noticed that the former is rather usual, too. So, which is which?

Both are accepted pronunciation, Andrei.  Like the two pronunciations of either/neither.

[Florestan]

Both are accepted pronunciation, Andrei.  Like the two pronunciations of either/neither.

OK, thanks. I'll stick to -di, out of deep sympathy and respect for my teacher. 

[Sylph]

Not names, but related to pronunciation: how do you pronounce the termination of the days of the week, -deɪ  or -di ? My English teacher 25 years ago insisted it should be the latter, but I've noticed that the former is rather usual, too. So, which is which?

John Wells, a very well known British phonetician, says:

Although Received Pronunciation and General American are both traditionally considered to prefer di, most speakers in practice use both pronunciations for this suffix, often in a strong form—weak form relationship. The deɪ form is generally preferred in exposed positions, for example at the end of a sentence: I'll do it on Monday ˈmʌn deɪ ; the di form is preferred in close-knit expressions such as Monday morning ˌmʌnd i ˈmɔːn ɪŋ ǁ -ˈmɔːrn-

[Florestan]

John Wells, a very well known British phonetician, says:

Interesting differentiation. Thanks.

[Sylph]

Both are accepted pronunciation, Andrei.  Like the two pronunciations of either/neither.

But, NEYEDH-ə is British whereas NEEDH-ər is American.

Yes, understood.

Which is why I mentioned the story.  If Rayf were a universal British pronunciation, that lady would not have had a question to ask, right?

Who knows what kind of a lady she was.

[Florestan]

But, NEIDH-ə is British whereas NEEDH-ər is American.

The disadvantage of having colonies: it changes the metropolitan language. Valid for English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.   

[MishaK]

Not English, but Irish.... I once worked on a deal where one person from the other party had the first name spelled Gearoid. I guess that is Irish for Gerard, but instead of pronouncing it that way (which I have also encountered), he pronounced his name more like Dzherahzh, with a stress on the second syllable.

[Grazioso]

It's not English. It's Welsh!

Welsh names scare me:

Ioann Gruffud? What the hell?

[Sylph]

Welsh names scare me:

Ioann Gruffud? What the hell?

It has one n. And Wiki has the pronunciation together with the sound file.