How Do You Pronounce Your Name Differently Than It’s Spelled?

Have you ever encountered a situation where your name is pronounced differently than it is spelled? This phenomenon is not uncommon and can lead to amusing scenarios or simple misunderstandings. In this article, we explore the unique experience of pronouncing names in a way that differs from their written form. From Armenian phonetics to international conventions, discover how names can sometimes translate from one language to another with unexpected results.

Unusual Pronunciations in Armenian

Names with unique phonetics, especially those from languages like Armenian, can present challenges to English speakers. For instance, my last name, Daugherty, is not an easy name to pronounce, let alone spell correctly. Some non-English speakers sometimes pronounce it as “dirty.”

The complexity of my name lies in its vowel sounds, which are short. Armenian does not have vowel length, and all the a’s in my last name are pronounced similarly to ah in "cat." The gh sounds like a French r, and the rs are taps rather than rolled.

Language Specific Pronunciations

This issue is not exclusive to names with Armenian origins. English-speaking names can also vary greatly when pronounced, as demonstrated by Nigel Featherstonhaugh, whose last name, with its unique and challenging spelling, presents a humorous scenario.

At a Discworld convention, I struck up a conversation with an English Pratchett fan. He handed me a card with his name, Nigel Featherstonhaugh, and explained with a smile that his surname is pronounced “Fan-shaw.” I was delighted, having been waiting for such a moment for years. I simply replied, “Pleased to meet you. Mine is pronounced ‘Oook.’”

Even common English names can challenge pronunciation. For example, my given name, Oliver, is commonly pronounced "Oh-lee-ver" but I sometimes pronounce it as "Au-li-vur" or "Au-luh-vur."

The Case of Reisman

Apart from the usual variations, names can have phonetic spellings that are different and not widely known. Take the name Reisman, for instance. It's pronounced "Reess-man" as spelled out in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): /ismn/ or /ismn/.

This retention of a traditional pronunciation can be interesting, especially when you don’t know the reasoning behind it. It highlights the cultural and linguistic heritage that sometimes still influences how names are pronounced.

An Unexpected Name Pronunciation

Moving to a name that has a unique challenge, consider the name Haroon. While its first name, "Haroon," is straightforward, the surname has a complicated phonetic structure. The "lj" is a palatal lateral, similar to the "l" in "million," and the "sh" sound in "sheep" is used for ". The pronunciation would be "Shee-ll-ack" or "Sheel-aak," where "aa" is pronounced as /ɑ/.