Date: Sun, 8 Jan 1995 13:27:49 GMT+1200
From: Tim Behrend t.behrend[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
Subject: (Fwd) Re: Euphonizing (?) proper names
Forwarded message:
From: Self CCNOV2/ASI_BEH
To: Chris Brooks chris[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]HSCC.KUNIV.EDU.KW
Subject: Re: Euphonizing (?) proper names
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 1995 13:26:50
Chris Brooks chris[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]HSCC.KUNIV.EDU.KW , writing on Sat, 07 Jan 1995,
asks:
Is there a name for (there MUST be!) proper names which are pronounced
differently from the way we would pronounce them according to their
spellings (sorry)--because spelling pronunciations would result in an
embarrassing, low-class, or objectionable word?
I don't know what the word you are looking for is, or even if there
is one, but I have an example to add to your list. My sister-in-
law's birth name was Hoare, and when she was introduced to the family
there was great emphasis put on the "correct" pronunciation of OR, not
the obvious pronunciation based on the spelling. There's also the
cartoon teacher on The Simpsons, named Kruh-BOP-uhl (i.e. Crabapple)
My own surname was moderately productive of slurs in
elementary school (Behrend - - Bare End, hahaha), but I've always
wondered what families named Fuch and Fuchs do? I've seen the name
frequently in print, but have never heard it pronounced in English.
Tim Behrend
University of Auckland