Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Charlottesville, VA, USA. more »
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8 replies on “5 countries we’re suddenly obliged to pronounce as if we’re natives.”
What brought that on?
Hahahaha. Yeah, the Niger one really threw me off the last few years. Also, in the run-up to the war, I couldn’t figure out what “cutter” (Qatar) was referring to.
Iraq: EE-rok
I’m with ya on that one…it’s silly madness.
Cumberland….oh wait, that’s not a foreign country, it just feels/looks like one……..
*–to properly pronounce the gh, try gargling, but limit yourself to one guttural “pop”. try not to gag.
P.S.–Mark, I was going to do West Virginia, but you beat me to the joke
States too:
LOY – z – annah
Actually I’ve always thought it was incredibly absurd that each language has totally different names for every country and language… we call them “Germany,” the French call them “Allemagne” (i think) … wouldn’t it be easier for everyone just to say “Deutschland” ? Whether we can pronounce it accurately or not, it would be a step in the right direction.
I get into arguments about this all the time with my significant other, who speaks English (fluently) as her third language, so I guess her opinion on the subject has a little more weight than mine. But still, I think I have a point.
What brought that on?
Hahahaha. Yeah, the Niger one really threw me off the last few years. Also, in the run-up to the war, I couldn’t figure out what “cutter” (Qatar) was referring to.
Iraq: EE-rok
I’m with ya on that one…it’s silly madness.
Cumberland….oh wait, that’s not a foreign country, it just feels/looks like one……..
Hey, I live here, I can make that joke.
Iran: EE-ron
Afghanistan: af-GHON-eh-ston
Qatar: GHAH-tor
Dubai: DOH-bay
of course, I have a bit of an advantage. . .
*–to properly pronounce the gh, try gargling, but limit yourself to one guttural “pop”. try not to gag.
P.S.–Mark, I was going to do West Virginia, but you beat me to the joke
States too:
LOY – z – annah
Actually I’ve always thought it was incredibly absurd that each language has totally different names for every country and language… we call them “Germany,” the French call them “Allemagne” (i think) … wouldn’t it be easier for everyone just to say “Deutschland” ? Whether we can pronounce it accurately or not, it would be a step in the right direction.
I get into arguments about this all the time with my significant other, who speaks English (fluently) as her third language, so I guess her opinion on the subject has a little more weight than mine. But still, I think I have a point.