Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-18
PROPER NAMES.
Pronounced Like English, but With the
Right Syllable Accented.

Pronounced Like English, but With the
Right Syllable Accented.
As the English language has well
settled rules Of pronunciation, and is
we'll able to deal in its own manner
with almost any possible combination
Of letters brought into it from other
languages, it would seem to be not only
permissible but proper for English
speaking people to pronounce foreign
names according to English analogies.
It is not incumbent upon Americans or
Englishmen to familiarize themselves
with Russian, for example, before they
may venture to pronounce the name Of
Russian diplomat, or study Chinese
in order to lie i'll position to mention
casually some Chinese proper name. It
is enough, as a general rule. to give to
the old combination Of sounds presented
to us in dispatches from Japan, Bull
garia, the Transvaal or Venezuela such
utterance as the laws of our own Ian
guage prescribe. Hit or miss, life is too
short to master the orthoepy Of every
tongue and we must be content to do
the best we can in our own way. Espe-
cially is this the case with proper names
that have long had place in the English
language and have recognized Eng
lish pronunciation. It is mere affecta-
tion to convert Paris into Paree, or ape
the German pronunciation of the name
Of Wagner, the we'll known musician
and composer, by giving twist to the
first Letter. Paris is Paris, and Wagner
is Wagner, the names being common
and we'll understood. A person in the
first enthusiasm of his acquaintance
with foreign language may be par
doned for airing his superior knowledge
when uncommon names, not adopted in
common English speech, are in ques-
tion, but he becomes ridiculous when
he undertakes to impart a foreign ac-
cent to familiar names. There is story
Of New York clerk, named Gordon,
who after month s stay in France be-
came "Gor-r-rdong" and refused to an
swer to any other appellation. His case
was an extreme one perhaps, but it il
lustrates the vice-too common-of
using with excessive ostentation foreign
instead of the more useful and inteli-
gible English pronunciations.
With respect to Latin and Greek prop
er names stricter rule may perhaps be |
conceded to apply. These languages are
the implements of culture. The rules of |
pronunciation applicable to words trans
ferred from them into English are
simple and few, and we'll within the |
reach Of every one who pretends to a |
classical education. A false accent is ac-
cordingly objectionable, and among
classic scholars correctness of accent is
the accepted test Of sound and Thorough /
training. But in the sounds given to
particular letters there is room for the
manifestation of vanity OF immature
Judgment Cicero's name during the
lifetime of the great Roman orator was
undoubtedly pronounced Kikero, and
Caesar was Kaisar. Other consonants
and all the vowels were in classical
Latin pronounced in a way which our
English letters once followed, but from
which they have now for the most part
departed. At college it is we'll to learn
what is thought to have been the true
Latin pronunciation. All knowledge is
useful. But it is unnecessary in quot
ing Latin after leaving college to aim
at painful consistency. In respect
indeed to names like Cicero and Caesar,
which have been domesticated, SO to
speak. in the English language, the
usual rule applies. They are to be pro-
nounced like English words, only TAX
ing care to get the accent on the right
syllable. The English speaking Ameri-
,an people accept, in fact, the common
sense rule that pure English is always
preferable to a potpourri of German.
Latin and other pronunciations -Balti-
moro Sun