Strangest pronunciations

**Muppity** · April 7th, 2009, 05:34 PM

My brother was just telling me about a name that he has come across and it got me thinking about how we are pretty used to having inventive spelling these but what about inventive pronunciation?

The one he was telling me about was a little girl he knows who's name is spelled "Yvonne" which has always been E-von to me but her parents pronounce it Wyv-O-nee.

And I also work with a girl who's name is Siobhan which to me has always been Shi-vaughn but this one was Si-be-on.

**BrightSparkles** · April 7th, 2009, 05:38 PM

Very interesting pro nunciations.
A bit like Anika (A - Ni - ka) and (an-i-ka)

**Trillian** · April 7th, 2009, 05:39 PM

ROFL Taff, I think the Si-be-on was just because they didn't know how it was really pronounced. I love the ones who have the whole Hyacinth Bucket thing going on - A woman I know now insists that her DD be called A-lee-see-a when it's really Alicia a-leash-a and I know that because I have heard her call her that myself ROFL.

**Lulu** · April 7th, 2009, 05:42 PM

The one he was telling me about was a little girl he knows who's name is spelled "Yvonne" which has always been E-von to me but her parents pronounce it Wyv-O-nee.

That is beyond stupid....

**Willow** · April 7th, 2009, 05:45 PM

a little girl he knows who's name is spelled "Yvonne" which has always been E-von to me but her parents pronounce it Wyv-O-nee.

I'm sorry but that's just awful! Whether it's intentional or not, it just sounds like they don't know how to pronounce it!!

**Tinks** · April 7th, 2009, 05:56 PM

There is a girl in DD grade called Saroise (think I've spelt it correctly) pronounced Seesha. Quite strange if you ask me.

**leckert** · April 7th, 2009, 06:28 PM

When I was growing up there was a boy named Sean but everyone pronounced it at as "Seen" rather than "Shawn". No one else had a similar name in town. I ended up not realising the correct pronunciation until Yr 11 when my family moved to Adelaide. No one in my hometown had any idea it wasn't pronounced "Seen". No one seemed to mind - gotta love the English language with all it's weird inconsistencies of spelling and pronunciations.

**Rouge** · April 7th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Re Alicia given its a derivative of Alice... it can be pronounced Al-ee-sha or Al-ee-cee-ah... I think its german or french or both... So maybe the different pronunciations stem from different regions of origin?

Those other names are just CRAZY!

**Sequoia** · April 7th, 2009, 06:48 PM

When I was growing up there was a boy named Sean but everyone pronounced it at as "Seen" rather than "Shawn". No one else had a similar name in town. I ended up not realising the correct pronunciation until Yr 11 when my family moved to Adelaide. No one in my hometown had any idea it wasn't pronounced "Seen". No one seemed to mind - gotta love the English language with all it's weird inconsistencies of spelling and pronunciations.

I was about to post Sean as Seen. A guy in my hometown too!

**leckert** · April 7th, 2009, 06:57 PM

Sequoia - Not Biloela central Qld by any chance???????

**DaintreeDream** · April 7th, 2009, 07:01 PM

ROFL Taff, I think the Si-be-on was just because they didn't know how it was really pronounced.

I think there are alot of these out there... where people see the name written and and assume they are pronounced as they are spelt!

I looked after a little girl Rachelle which I (and I hope most people or I am the silly one here

) pronounce as Ra-shell and her parents pronounced it Rachel.
I also worked with a lady whose name was spelt Mary-Anne, she pronounced it Mariam.
Argh, I had another one but it is gone, if I remember I will be back

.

**Jas** · April 7th, 2009, 07:09 PM

lol how annoying!!! I understand when ppl like things spelt differently. Growing up I didn't know any other Jasmine's I know it is quite popular now but only with ppl much younger and growing up I always had to correct ppl and say with a e on the end but now it has become the most common spelling so no longer have to do that.

But anyway soooo don't get giving your kid a name that looks exactly like a different name! They will constantly have to say no my name is....

**Sequoia** · April 7th, 2009, 07:50 PM

Sequoia - Not Biloela central Qld by any chance???????

Nah, in WA.

**Hummingbird** · April 7th, 2009, 07:56 PM

Hmmmm maybe the parents are trying to give their kid a complex before it's even born!

smiles4u · April 7th, 2009, 08:14 PM

Reminds me of my DD's name Cendrine which english speaking countries pronounce as it looks Sen - dreen ... But the proper French why of saying it is Son - drien

We loved both ways ... but we pronounce it is as we knew us Aussie's would say it

Like my name Lorelle ... pronounced Ler - elle ... yet my older sister & Dad are the only two people on the planet that pronounce it Law - relle

**Pandora** · April 7th, 2009, 08:37 PM

I think a lot of it comes down to the way kids are taught to read at school, by sounding things out, when the English language can have one seplling with tons or pronunciations (ough is a classic - through, though, thought, tough, plough, thorough, hiccough)

DaintreeDream - one of the kinder teachers where DS will hopefully go next year is Rachelle pronounced Rachael.
Lulu i reckon youd have heard a few pearlers in the call centre.
My Aunty works for centrelink in Pensions and so from time to tme I hear some rippers like

Elspeth - el-SER-peth
Danielle - Dun-EEL
Karen - Kaaren

And I worked with someone whose name was spelled Bahriye, and pronounced Bree-uh