Pronunciation help: all languages

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wordzenpix
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Post by wordzenpix »

Excellent. I hadn't seen your wiki guide. I look forward to reading through it. Thanks.
Lynnet
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Post by Lynnet »

I would also add that Merriam-Webster is NOT the Bible of the ENGLISH language. Quite apart from regional differences already discussed, The O.E.D. might take issue with American pronunciation of quite a few words...
I think 'guide' is what it is and should be.
wordzenpix
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Post by wordzenpix »

You have succinctly pointed out what I was reluctant to say. AP Style demands one dictionary which is understandable, Chicago another. I've often been puzzled by Merriam-Webster given its heritage. My last newspaper editor made it clear Webster's New World College, Fourth Edition was gospel. She was a stickler and excellent.
Hokuspokus
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Post by Hokuspokus »

Just came across a very interesting source for German pronunciation Duden online http://www.duden.de/hilfe/aussprache
They have mp3 files from the ARD Aussprachedatenbank. http://www.ard.de/home/intern/fakten/abc-der-ard/ARD_Aussprachedatenbank____AusspracheDatenBank__ADB__der_ARD/563650/index.html

Will add this to the first post.
dread
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Post by dread »

Wow! Thanks for this very helpful site. Will use it for sure!

-- dread
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Lucy_k_p
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Post by Lucy_k_p »

I've found two more sites that are good for the pronunciation of various names:
http://www.rightpronunciation.com
http://www.pronouncenames.com/
So little space, so much to say.
Gavenport
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Post by Gavenport »

Are there any guides for correct pronounciation of arabian names? I think about reading 'Tales of 1001 nights' in german but don't want to 'deform' the sounding of the names.

For example: In the german translation (of Gustav Weil) there are the sisters Dinarsad and Schehersad - last name read in german sounds very strange to me since I'm used to the english spelling 'Sherazade' as from the same-called LP from british folk-rockers 'Renaissance' ;-) - and I love this spelling - it sounds more soft in my ears

Another difficulty is the translation itself: the word 'Vezier' today is written as 'Wesir' (and means 'vizier' in english) - but the words i may not recognize and give them a mispronounciation...

hmm - sounds a bit confused (as I am at the moment ;-))

conclusion: I don't want to insult somebody with mispronounciation of names who is familiar with the arabian world and especially with these tales
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Gavenport
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Post by Gavenport »

Hmmm - i found 'Scheherazade' and similar spellings. But pronunciation is different from country to country (Libanon, Persia) so I'll do in my readings the 'german' pronunciation / translation...
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carolb
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Post by carolb »

Here are links to 2 free online Arabic pronunciation dictionaries:

http://www.firdaous.com/en/0023.htm

http://www.lingvozone.com/LingvoSoft-Online-English-Arabic-Dictionary

You will find others if you 'google'

Carol
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Post by Gavenport »

carolb wrote:Here are links to 2 free online Arabic pronunciation dictionaries:

http://www.firdaous.com/en/0023.htm

http://www.lingvozone.com/LingvoSoft-Online-English-Arabic-Dictionary

You will find others if you 'google'

Carol
Thank you!

I found Behind the names and with the right spelling its more easier to find a site with pronunciation. So in the german version of '1001 nights' Sheherazade is written as Schersad and this is more like a phonetic spelling so it seems that it will be 'easy' for me to read the stories :-)
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Gavenport
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Post by Gavenport »

New question :P for french-speaking people.

In a text you can read this:

... Mlle Rose, Modes.

It's on a door / bell plate and I know that Mlle = Mademoiselle, but what is 'Modes.' and how is it pronounced?

Found nothing on Google or dictionarys...
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RuthieG
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Post by RuthieG »

It means 'fashions' (i.e. she is a dressmaker) and is pronounced 'mohd' (long pure 'o' sound).

Ruth
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Gavenport
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Post by Gavenport »

RuthieG wrote:It means 'fashions' (i.e. she is a dressmaker) and is pronounced 'mohd' (long pure 'o' sound).

Ruth
Thanks a lot! :)
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barbara2
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Post by barbara2 »

I'd be grateful if one of our Greek scholars/speakers could give me an idea how to pronounce 'χολου κρατει" [Be master of thy anger (Periander)] and φθινύθωνm φίλον κήρ [to devour his own heart in solitude and contempt (Homer)].

Best,

Barbara
barbara2
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Post by barbara2 »

barbara2 wrote:I'd be grateful if one of our Greek scholars/speakers could give me an idea how to pronounce 'χολου κρατει" [Be master of thy anger (Periander)] and φθινύθωνm φίλον κήρ [to devour his own heart in solitude and contempt (Homer)].

Best,

Barbara
Ha! I didn't realise that there were sub-threads for the different languages. Thanks to a reply by Rapunzelina to another query about Greek, I saw that Google Transate has a Listen function, just hit the little loudspeaker icon.

Hope that helps people.

Barbara
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