Apropos of absolutely nothing

[ksmith]

Names. Pronunciation.

During my art major days, I took an overview course in Renaissance Art. One of the Italian painters we studied was Cimabue, whose name, according to our instructor, was pronounced "chim-a'-boo-ay".

So. Paul Tagliabue, the NFL commish. He is, iirc, Italian. Everyone pronounces his name "tag'-lee-a-boo", but should it be pronounced "tah-lee-a'-boo-ay"?

Comments

[stevenagy.livejournal.com]

I think these are the kinds of questions that make us writers. :-)

When I was a kid and I first started to read, one of the first books my parents provided was a children's illustrated Bible (Catholic upbringing/indoctrination, don't you know). But I didn't know how to say Egypt, so when I was reading about Moses, I pronounced it as edge-o-pet. Used that in a story about Egyptian gods. :-)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I mispronounced 'weapon' during the comic book-reading days of my early youth. I pronounced it "wee-pon" until I about 7. I don't think there's a story in that one.

Wish I still had some of those comic books...

[stevenagy.livejournal.com]

Hindsight in my case would amount to around a cool quarter million as far as comics go. I used to own the Spider-Man issue where Gwen Stacy died at the hands of the Green Goblin. It's auctioned for at least that much.