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From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Re: literacy
Message-ID: <695@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 10:19:32 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.695
Posted: Tue Nov  5 10:19:32 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 05:55:08 EST
References: <747@cyb-eng.UUCP> <1900005@datacube.UUCP> <2260@iddic.UUCP> <670@stc-b.stc.UUCP> <842@terak.UUCP>
Organization: Duke U Comp Ctr
Lines: 29

> Though I agree on actually mispronounced words. I was taught
> that the proper way to pronounce a place or name is the same
> as the inhabitants or the named person (or its owners', if its
> an animal,) pronounces it.
> -- 
> Suzanne Barnett-Scott

Dick Snow (rms@ecsvax) once hooked up a speech synthesizer and to test
it typed the word "computer."  "Kahm-POO-ter" said the box.  Henceforth
I have held that this machine, at least, should be called a compooter.

Interesting to wonder about what constitutes "correct" pronunciation.
Evidently not majority rule.  Consider the adjective "consummate"
(ultimate, perfect, utter), which most Americans (at least) pronounce
"KAHNsummit" instead of "kahnSUMmit" as the dictionaries would have
it.

Back to names:  My family name was (and still is, some places)
pronounced to rhyme with laddy.  My cousin Elizabeth Grady says the
change in pronunciation took place when one of the many Grady lawyers
set up practice in Wilmington, NC.  The first client was a loooonnng
time coming.  When he finally appeared in the door, he asked, "Are you
the lawyer Grady?" pronouncing the name to rhyme with lady.  "Indeed I
am," said my esteemed relative, and that was that.
-- 
D Gary Grady
Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC  27706
(919) 684-3695
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