"Paw-Key-Stawn"

09/26/2008 | PhilosopherStones

[PhilosopherStones]

Was that just Obambi's "Jenjis Kawn" moment?

John Friggin Kerry 2.

[Lou L]

Exactly what I said to my wife when he first came out with ‘Pock-ee-stan’-—he says it like he lives there. ‘Tolly-bon’, also, highly suspect. It will subliminally turn many people off.

How "Alex Trabek" of Obama...showing everyone how superior he is by (allegedly) giving the "correct" pronounciation of foreign places and people.

[BigBobber]

Yes, and we found out Obama’a position on Ukraine and Georgia are (now) exactly the same as Gov. Palin’s. But Palin is a war monger!

Wonder how that went over with the pink crowd.

[T Baden]

I think many of us (and probably many nationwide) have the same thought of Obama’s pronunciation of Pakistan. I was hoping for more “Elmer Fudd” moments from Obama ... but he still “Uhhed” and “hemmed and hawed” more than a speaker who is in command of his facts and his beliefs should. I give McCain an “8” and Obama a “4” for the evening’s “performance.” McCain’s ticking off of the names of countries and their leaders in the former Soviet Union sounded much more “professional” and “knowledgeable.”

[AnotherUnixGeek]

These pronunciations are simply English translated into Obama Ebonics.

Actually Obama is using the correct pronunciation for "Pakistan" and "Taliban", while most Americans mispronounce them. Won't make me vote for him, but I won't fault a man for knowing his pronunciation.

[WillVoteForFood]

Perhaps Uhbamuh pronounces “chihuahua” as “chuh-HOO-uh-HOO-uh” and “Chi Chi Rodriguez” as “CHEYE-CHEYE ROD-ruh-GWEZ”.

[HighlyOpinionated]

I was waiting for Obama to give the “call to evening prayer” in Arabic every time he pronounced Pakistan or Taliban with that “arabic accent” he effects so well.

Obama is a Poseur and we don’t really know if he’s a US Citizen or not.

[Delta 21]

I pronounce it “VANITY”.

[9422WMR]

“Actually Obama is using the correct pronunciation for “Pakistan” and “Taliban”, while most Americans mispronounce them.”
Yea, nothing like talking down to someone and inferring superiority to make someone like you. Works every time “num-skul”.

[PhilosopherStones]

LOL!

That’s pretty funny.

I suppose the “correct” pronunciation of “Paris” is paree.

Or the “correct” pronunciation of “Munich” is moonchen.

Or the “correct” pronuciation of “freeway” is motorway.

Only insecure, pseudo-intellectual poseurs believe that some foreign pronunciation is the “correct” one.

[MHGinTN]

“Or the “correct” pronunciation of “Munich” is moonchen.” Um, no ... but if there’s an umlout over the “u”

[PhilosopherStones]

When I was working in Monaco, all the Germans I met called it “Munich”. A bit disconcerting until I got used to it.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Only insecure, pseudo-intellectual poseurs believe that some foreign pronunciation is the “correct” one.

Pakistanis mangling the pronunciation of "Washington" would not be correct, they'd just be wrong. As are Americans who insist on mis-pronouncing foreign names even when they know better. The blather about insecure, pseudo-intellectual, etc. doesn't change that - it just adds to the proud-to-be-wrong snobbery.

[maro]

You know what I hate is when a Hispanic news reporter who is bilingual insists on pronouncing his or her name the “right” way. Since it is an English language broadcast, please say your name in a way that English speakers can follow.

[RoadKingSE]

stu.. stu.. stu.. stutter much? LOL

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Yea, nothing like talking down to someone and inferring superiority to make someone like you. Works every time “num-skul”.

The fact that you feel like you're being talked down to when someone speaks correctly says far more about you than about the people speaking correctly. There's nothing wrong with knowing what you're saying.

[jocon307]

“but I won’t fault a man for knowing his pronunciation. “

Agreed, and to me John Kerry sounded just liked my beloved father but nevertheless, it don’t play in Peoria!

[RoadKingSE]

Only insecure, pseudo-intellectual poseurs believe that some foreign pronunciation is the “correct” one.

"Mersee bocoo."

[PhilosopherStones]

Sorry, you’re just another insecure internationalist.

What is the correct pronumciation of “Moscow”?
What is the correct pronunciation of “Montreal”?
What is the correct pronunciation of “Des Moines”?
What is the correct pronunciation of “Los Angeles”?
What is the correct pronunciation of “Sweden”?

[XEHRpa]

> ‘Pock-ee-stan’-—he says it like he lives there.

If he was big into correct pronunciations, he’d have said things like “Ab-khhhhazia”, “ooo-cry-ee-na” and the like. But no... only the middle-east nations did he strive for a local pronunciation.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Sorry, you’re just another insecure internationalist.

Nope, I'm just a guy who noted that Obama was pronouncing "Pakistan" and "Taliban" more correctly than most Americans.

You, on the other hand, are someone who thinks your dumb mistakes are somehow magically "correct". Congratulations on your narcissism, however you happen to pronounce that.