Pronouncing childrens' names
Nov 7, 2017 20:01:27 GMT 9
Post by Patricia on Nov 7, 2017 20:01:27 GMT 9
I will attempt to explain our name situation...but am finding it difficult to write out clearly.
My 5-year-old old daughter's name (Charlotte) is common in both our ml (English) and the ML (German), however it is pronounced slightly differently. We of course use the English pronunciation and the consensus seems to be that other non-English speakers also attempt to pronounce it this way. However, it is easier for ML speakers to use the pronunciation they are familiar with and my 5-year-old does not correct them when this happens (for example, when someone is just reading her name from a list and hasn't heard her name being spoken). She has only been speaking the ML for 2 years and so, as she has learned the name for certain objects is different in each language, she naturally seems to have learned that her name is different in each language. Now when she introduces herself to a ML speaker, she will say her name with the ML pronunciation. I'm not sure if I should encourage her to do this, or encourage her to correct people who pronounce it the 'German way'.
The pronunciation issue gets complicated when we are dealing with native German speakers who also speak English (all of her kindergarten teachers for example, and many others). In their attempt to pronounce her name in 'English', they actually end up saying it incorrectly, and I happen to find this pronunciation the worst...I prefer the German pronunciation as it is exactly the same, just with the final 'e' at the end being pronounced, as a soft 'e' sound instead of being silent. Those attempting to do an 'English' pronunciation leave the 'e' silent, but seem to always pronounce the "Ch" as in cheese. I'm not great at listening to different accents and am just learning German myself, so it took me a long time to notice this happening, and so I didn't get the chance to correct her teachers at the beginning. Now it seems too much time has passed, and so I'm just looking towards the future when she starts school next fall. I want to get this name issue sorted out so that her new teachers and peers pronounce her name correctly. I did ask her what she would prefer, but she is only 5 so I'm also wondering what I should be encouraging and what others have done in this situation.
My 5-year-old old daughter's name (Charlotte) is common in both our ml (English) and the ML (German), however it is pronounced slightly differently. We of course use the English pronunciation and the consensus seems to be that other non-English speakers also attempt to pronounce it this way. However, it is easier for ML speakers to use the pronunciation they are familiar with and my 5-year-old does not correct them when this happens (for example, when someone is just reading her name from a list and hasn't heard her name being spoken). She has only been speaking the ML for 2 years and so, as she has learned the name for certain objects is different in each language, she naturally seems to have learned that her name is different in each language. Now when she introduces herself to a ML speaker, she will say her name with the ML pronunciation. I'm not sure if I should encourage her to do this, or encourage her to correct people who pronounce it the 'German way'.
The pronunciation issue gets complicated when we are dealing with native German speakers who also speak English (all of her kindergarten teachers for example, and many others). In their attempt to pronounce her name in 'English', they actually end up saying it incorrectly, and I happen to find this pronunciation the worst...I prefer the German pronunciation as it is exactly the same, just with the final 'e' at the end being pronounced, as a soft 'e' sound instead of being silent. Those attempting to do an 'English' pronunciation leave the 'e' silent, but seem to always pronounce the "Ch" as in cheese. I'm not great at listening to different accents and am just learning German myself, so it took me a long time to notice this happening, and so I didn't get the chance to correct her teachers at the beginning. Now it seems too much time has passed, and so I'm just looking towards the future when she starts school next fall. I want to get this name issue sorted out so that her new teachers and peers pronounce her name correctly. I did ask her what she would prefer, but she is only 5 so I'm also wondering what I should be encouraging and what others have done in this situation.
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