There's a dancer named Julianne Hough. Not sure of spelling of her first name. Not sure of pronunciation of her last name.
I had always guessed it was pronounced like "How." But somebody told me it was pronounced like "Huff."
Anybody know for sure?
Julianne Hough, and I am 99% sure it's 'Huff'. This seems to confirm it:
Derek and Julianne Hough Dance!
I am 99% sure it's 'Huff
I think you're right but there are so many possible pronunciations of th 'ough' ending - off (as in cough), oo (as in through), oh (as in thorough), ow (as in bough), uh (as in borough) etc.
AJ
Hough originates in Anglo-Saxon English and is traditionally pronounced "huff". However, Hough is also used as an alternate spelled of the Irish name Haugh, which is pronounced "how" or "haw".
There's also a French variant of Haugh, originally spelled Haueis, which comes from the German Hadewidis.
Note that all three names have different etymological origins and meanings. This isn't just a case of the same name going through spelling and pronunciation changes as it shifts languages.
My point being that unless you can actually ask the individual herself, you'll probably never know. In general, all answers are correct. What is specific to this person is unknown without talking to them.
My point being that unless you can actually ask the individual herself, you'll probably never know. In general, all answers are correct. What is specific to this person is unknown without talking to them.
That was the point of the link — she's introduced and one would expect that was correct given it was a mainstream TV personality presenting.
During the football World Cup (you know, the one where the North America doesn't supply all the competitors), one of the so-called expert pundits kept pronouncing 'Canada' as 'Canayda'.
AJ
During the football World Cup (you know, the one where the North America doesn't supply all the competitors),
You mean the one I actually watch? 😜 ⚽️
But hardly any other Americans do.
None of my kids are into gridiron. They are all Tottenham fans. Ditto my closest friends.
They are all Tottenham fans.
Saying you're interested in association football and follow Tottenham is like saying you're keen on singing and follow rap artists ;-)
AJ
Saying you're interested in association football and follow Tottenham is like saying you're keen on singing and follow rap artists ;-)
BRILLIANT!
I am a fan of Arsenal. One of the perks of my duties in support of some Brits, was an Arsenal jersey! I got some other cool swag too.
Bonus question: Anyone here able to sing the "Mancheste United fan song?" ;-)
I am a fan of Arsenal. One of the perks of my duties in support of some Brits, was an Arsenal jersey! I got some other coll swag too.
My eldest (Jesse in AWLL) gots to an Arsenal bar in his hometown here in the former colonies to watch EFL. The landlord is an Englishman who came to the US about twenty-five years ago.
-M
They are all Tottenham fans.
Jonny Kane's son, Harry, scored the only goal of the game against Manchester City at the weekend ;-)
AJ
Jonny Kane's son, Harry, scored the only goal of the game against Manchester City at the weekend ;-)
And becomes the first to score 200 goals for a single team in the PL, and stands third all-time.
Combined with Son Heung-min he makes Tottenham a fun side to watch.
Related, but different - near San Francisco, one can find Cañada College, which is 'Canyada'. Of course, it's not related to the country, but the transposition of the 'a' and 'y' in your example made me think of it.
I've heard celebrities names mispronounced all the time. Usually they don't even try to correct the pronunciation unless the name is distinct enough that the discussion is itself interesting.
For example, 90s star Alicia Silverstone pronounces her first name as Al-iss-ee-a, but most people in North America say A-leesh-a. OTOH, I've seen Saoirse Ronan discuss her name's pronunciation since it's something most Americans have never even seen before her.
I've heard celebrities names mispronounced all the time. Usually they don't even try to correct the pronunciation unless the name is distinct enough that the discussion is itself interesting.
Which is why I said 99% and why I said the liked video 'seem to confirm'.
Every source I found said 'Huff', but that isn't proof positive. See, e.g. Niklas Hjalmarsson who used to play for the Chicago Blackhawks who gave into N. American mispronunciation of his name. (Correct is 'Yahlmerson' but most commentators sayid 'Jalmerson' or mangled it worse).
I've seen Saoirse Ronan discuss her name's pronunciation since it's something most Americans have never even seen before her.
I wonder about that - I have a niece and a cousin (both American) named Saoirse. I think my niece Niamh has more problems with pronunciation than they do.
I think my niece Niamh has more problems with pronunciation than they do.
At least with names like Niamh and Saoirse people recognise there's going to be pronunciation problems. I once had a work colleague called Adrian, which one might think would be easy to get right - but he was from Sweden, which means odd (to a Brit's ears) handling of vowels and stress.
It probably also depends on which pronunciation you use.
In an interview on the Graham Norton show Ronan said that the pronunciation she uses internationally is basically ser-sha (rhymes with inertia), but that the proper version requires certain sounds in Irish that don't appear in the English language.
Even she has trouble saying her name properly when speaking English because she has trouble switching between the two phoneme systems on the fly.
Hough originates in Anglo-Saxon English and is traditionally pronounced "huff". However, Hough is also used as an alternate spelled of the Irish name Haugh, which is pronounced "how" or "haw".
... and hough is also an alternative spelling for (a horse's) 'hock' - and pronounced accordingly. English is designed to really confuse outsiders, it seems; it also succeeds in confusing those who are brought up using it.
ETA: there's a place near where I live called Houghton, pronounced How-ton - and another called Towcester pronounced Toaster. Good luck guessing that one.
and another called Towcester pronounced Toaster. Good luck guessing that one.
Knowing how to pronounce Worcester, Leicester and Gloucester helps.
HM.
Knowing how to pronounce Worcester, Leicester and Gloucester helps.
But not Cirencester ;-)
AJ
But not Cirencester ;-)
That's no problem at all, just pick one you like
Today it is usually /ˈsaɪrənsɛstə/ (as it is spelt) or /ˈsaɪrənstə/, although occasionally it is /ˈsɪsɪstə/, /ˈsɪsɪtə/ or /ˈsɪstə/.
I like the last one best: 'Sister'
HM.
I've never heard any of the residents call their town 'sister'. I guess 'sirenster' might be possible after a dozen pints or so. ;-)
AJ
I've never heard any of the residents call their town 'sister'
I looked up the Wikipedia entry about Cirencester where I found the cited passage.
HM.
Are you sure that shouldn't be sighster rather than sister?
I've been to Cirencester a few times so, although I'm probably better informed than Wikipedia (spit!), my experience is anecdotal rather than definitive.
AJ
