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Help[Opinions] Why choose a name you don't know how to pronounce?
in reply to a message by Bianca
If Sören (Soren) was a common name in USA, then I could understand if there was a special American pronounciation. But I don't think it is that common. So I ask myself, why choose a forein name which you don't know how to pronounce? In this case, not how to spell either, since Sören is not spelt with an O, but with a Swedish Ö or a Danish Ö, which is like an O penetrated by a dash, /.
It is not totally subjective, the name has an origin and an original pronounciation.
"You sought a flower and found a fruit. You sought a spring and found a sea. You sought a woman and found a soul. You are disappointed."
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
It is not totally subjective, the name has an origin and an original pronounciation.
"You sought a flower and found a fruit. You sought a spring and found a sea. You sought a woman and found a soul. You are disappointed."
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
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Replies
I didn't choose it, I commented on it.
Yes there are "original" and "correct" pronunciations for names.
BUT,the sounds made by letter combinations are definitely subjective to culture and dialect.
Canada and the USA are VERY NEW countries. We are all descendants of immigrants, unless, of course, we are 100% native/aboriginal.
Canada is a mosaic of different cultures, ethnicities, religions.
My grandmother is a war bride from Amsterdam.
My paternal side hails from Austria.
We all "borrow" names from abroad...In fact, I would be really hard pressed to come up with even one "Canadian" name!
While I agree there is an "original" "correct" way to pronounce a name, a person's first language does colour how letters/letter combinations are spoken.
Names do evolve. Just look at this message board!Some people will take an african name and a Dutch name, seal them together and stick a "belle" on the end!
--Though we might not choose these names for our children, HEY, that's what makes us all unique!
--And that is why this is called the OPINIONS board.
OPINIONS are DEFINITELY subjective.
As an English speaking person, it would not be unnatural or foolish of me to assume Soren would be pronounced "SOR EN"
Unless I had some experience with the Scandinavian culture/languages, how would I know otherwise? I see Soren on a baby names list, I interpret it as such. Simple.
SOR EN would be the logical pronunciation because of the substance and sequence of the letters laid out, if interpreted in ENGLISH.
Why did she choose to ask about it?
Because she is interested in the name.
Why should she be interested?
WELL>
perhaps she was inspired by a beautiful novel in which Soren is the main character.
Maybe saw the name on a list and thought it looked interesting. Perhaps she saw it scrawled colourfully on a sign over a child's coat hook in her neice's elementary school and fell in love with it
Yes there are "original" and "correct" pronunciations for names.
BUT,the sounds made by letter combinations are definitely subjective to culture and dialect.
Canada and the USA are VERY NEW countries. We are all descendants of immigrants, unless, of course, we are 100% native/aboriginal.
Canada is a mosaic of different cultures, ethnicities, religions.
My grandmother is a war bride from Amsterdam.
My paternal side hails from Austria.
We all "borrow" names from abroad...In fact, I would be really hard pressed to come up with even one "Canadian" name!
While I agree there is an "original" "correct" way to pronounce a name, a person's first language does colour how letters/letter combinations are spoken.
Names do evolve. Just look at this message board!Some people will take an african name and a Dutch name, seal them together and stick a "belle" on the end!
--Though we might not choose these names for our children, HEY, that's what makes us all unique!
--And that is why this is called the OPINIONS board.
OPINIONS are DEFINITELY subjective.
As an English speaking person, it would not be unnatural or foolish of me to assume Soren would be pronounced "SOR EN"
Unless I had some experience with the Scandinavian culture/languages, how would I know otherwise? I see Soren on a baby names list, I interpret it as such. Simple.
SOR EN would be the logical pronunciation because of the substance and sequence of the letters laid out, if interpreted in ENGLISH.
Why did she choose to ask about it?
Because she is interested in the name.
Why should she be interested?
WELL>
perhaps she was inspired by a beautiful novel in which Soren is the main character.
Maybe saw the name on a list and thought it looked interesting. Perhaps she saw it scrawled colourfully on a sign over a child's coat hook in her neice's elementary school and fell in love with it
This message was edited 9/29/2005, 11:22 AM
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