Pedants' Paradise

[kernelbogey]

Interestingly (to me) the German firm Kaercher - I think it's spelled with a+umlaut in Germany - which makes things like power sprays for your 'patio', in its tv ads has the name pronounced as 'kurcher', no doubt on the assumption that this is how it will be pronounced in this country.

[kernelbogey]

And in an item on the late Doris Day yesterday a BBC journalist pronounced Calamity Jane as Cal-a-mit-y. I wonder if she had not encountered the word before.

[gurnemanz]

Interestingly (to me) the German firm Kaercher - I think it's spelled with a+umlaut in Germany - which makes things like power sprays for your 'patio', in its tv ads has the name pronounced as 'kurcher', no doubt on the assumption that this is how it will be pronounced in this country.

It's a family firm named after its founder, Alfred Kärcher. Pronunciation of "ä" is like English "e", as in Furtwängler, which is not difficult to get right. It's the authentic German "ch" which English speakers find harder. Authentic pronunciation here.

[french frank]

And in an item on the late Doris Day yesterday a BBC journalist pronounced Calamity Jane as Cal-a-mit-y. I wonder if she had not encountered the word before.

Can't quite think what the emoticon should be for that

[Bryn]

And in an item on the late Doris Day yesterday a BBC journalist pronounced Calamity Jane as Cal-a-mit-y. I wonder if she had not encountered the word before.

Perhaps she is a bit of a Walter . . .

[vinteuil]

It's a family firm named after its founder, Alfred Kärcher. Pronunciation of "ä" is like English "e", as in Furtwängler, which is not difficult to get right. It's the authentic German "ch" which English speakers find harder. Authentic pronunciation here.

... there is, of course, a view that it is better not to introduce in to the flow of a discourse in English (for example) sounds that are not essentially found there. A nod in the direction of the original language, yes, but using sounds that are to be found in English. Too much striving to sound as if you are a native speaker of the original language can itself be off-putting. Why am I thinking of a certain Radio 3 speakerine?


.

[Serial_Apologist]

Reigning Wimbledon Champion, Angelique Kerber, tends to get the same treatment - usually referred to as "curber"

Scousers should get that pronunciation right, then!

[Serial_Apologist]

It's a family firm named after its founder, Alfred Kärcher. Pronunciation of "ä" is like English "e", as in Furtwängler, which is not difficult to get right. It's the authentic German "ch" which English speakers find harder. Authentic pronunciation here.

Different areas of Germany pronounce "ch" sound differently - some pronouncing it as a soft "k" with the initial "k" not sounded, as it were, others closer to "sh".

[gurnemanz]

There are some regional differences but the basic rule for "ch" in standard German is soft after front vowels, eg ich, frech. Hard after back vowels, eg Bach, Loch, Buch.

[oddoneout]

" We listen to ... Greta Thunberg's perfect English with an expectation that her annunciation and vocabulary would be nothing other than spot-on". Unlike the writer of this article on the decline in UK pupils learning foreign languages.
Greta T may be considered blessed by some but I don't think that should extend to a future as the next Virgin Mary.

[LMcD]

" We listen to ... Greta Thunberg's perfect English with an expectation that her annunciation and vocabulary would be nothing other than spot-on". Unlike the writer of this article on the decline in UK pupils learning foreign languages.
Greta T may be considered blessed by some but I don't think that should extend to a future as the next Virgin Mary.

[french frank]

Writer of the article? So no chance of mishearing enunciation?

[LMcD]

Writer of the article? So no chance of mishearing enunciation?

People who are annoyed by her campaign might be more interested in her denunciation, I guess.

[Bryn]

" We listen to ... Greta Thunberg's perfect English with an expectation that her annunciation and vocabulary would be nothing other than spot-on". Unlike the writer of this article on the decline in UK pupils learning foreign languages.
Greta T may be considered blessed by some but I don't think that should extend to a future as the next Virgin Mary.

Sorry, which article, and which writer?

[oddoneout]

Sorry, which article, and which writer?

https://www.edp24.co.uk/features/greta-thunberg-role-model-rachel-moore-opinion-1-6052868