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Help with French/Belgian pronunciation

Posted: October 29th, 2009, 4:23 am
by jimmowatt
Greetings
This is a bit cheeky me here asking for help as I so rarely do anything Librivoxy at the moment but remembering what splendid people the Librivoxers are I decided to pop along anyway to see if there were some who could help make sure I get the pronunciation right for my podcast.
I do a podcast called Historyzine over at http://historyzine.com/ and I'm currently writing up the Battle of Ramillies, 1706.
There's a good link to the goings on in the battle here http://sites.google.com/site/ramillies1706/the-viewpoint-of-marlborough

Can anyone confirm plausible sounding pronunciations for any of these words?:

Ramillies
Taviers
Tirlemont
River Gheet
River Mehaigne
Autreglise
Foulz
Franquenay
Judoigne
Corswaren
Maison Du Roi
Offus
Villeroy

Posted: October 30th, 2009, 3:48 pm
by Julila
I'm not altogether sure about Gheet or Foulz, but this is what I would make of it: http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/xx/pronunciationsjimmowatt.mp3
Hope this helps!

Re: Help with French/Belgian pronunciation

Posted: October 30th, 2009, 5:53 pm
by ezwa
Hi Jim and Julie,

There are a few words I'd pronounce slightly differently from Julie :

Mehaigne
Autreglise
Judoigne (as in oignon - "onion")
Corswaren ("w" as in English, not as in German. It's a letter that we pronounce differently in Belgium and in France)

http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/ez/Bnames_jimmowatt_20091031.mp3

Posted: October 31st, 2009, 2:41 am
by jimmowatt
That's absolutely splendid.
Thank you Julila and Ezwa.
That's just what I wanted - I very much appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

Kind regards

Jim

Posted: November 5th, 2009, 6:11 am
by jimmowatt
I've now posted my latest episode of Historyzine at Historyzine.com, The Battle of Ramillies.
My pronunciation has slipped a few times but some of them I've managed to get close to your suggestions. Thanks again for helping me out with these.
Kind regards

Jim

Posted: January 21st, 2010, 7:25 am
by jimmowatt
Greetings
I return once more, cap in hand looking for some assistance, if I may.
I'm close to releasing another episode of my podcast, Historyzine and wondered if anyone could help with a little Belgian, French and Italian pronunciation.
These are the words I'm having difficulty with:

Louvain
Brabant
Dylet
Senne
Sheldt
Courtrai
Chamillart
Marshal La Fueillade
Piedmont
Adige
Cherasco
Oglio
Dendermonde
Deynse
Menin
Vauban
Ath
Count Goes

I know it's a tall order but if anyone could record some pronunciations for me I would be very grateful.
I'm also feeling a little guilty that, of late, I seem to be only taking from the Librivox community and not giving so it would assuage my conscience a little if you wish to nominate a chapter in a work that needs assistance and I'll record that as a thankyou for any assistance.

Kind regards

Jim

Posted: January 21st, 2010, 10:33 am
by Julila
Dear Jim,

A couple of the names you listed there have a Dutch alternative; I added them after the French pronunciation. I only picked the 'Flemish' names:
Louvain (Leuven), Brabant, Senne (Zenne), Sheldt (Schelde), Courtrai (Kortrijk), Dendermonde, Deynse (Deinze).
I could have a shot at the other names as well, if you'd like me to. Perhaps a native speaker will come along, though; then you'll have the correct pronunciation right away :).

http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/xx/pronunciationsjimmowatt2.mp3

Posted: January 21st, 2010, 11:19 am
by jimmowatt
Julila wrote:Dear Jim,

A couple of the names you listed there have a Dutch alternative; I added them after the French pronunciation. I only picked the 'Flemish' names:
Louvain (Leuven), Brabant, Senne (Zenne), Sheldt (Schelde), Courtrai (Kortrijk), Dendermonde, Deynse (Deinze).
I could have a shot at the other names as well, if you'd like me to. Perhaps a native speaker will come along, though; then you'll have the correct pronunciation right away :).

http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/xx/pronunciationsjimmowatt2.mp3
Thank you very much indeed.
That gives me a really good start.
I think I'll go for the more French sounding pronunciation even though I find it problematical.
I tried the Dutch ones and I was nearly strangled by my tongue.
I remember suffering similarly when we did the History of Holland project on here some time back. I found those Dutch names a real challenge.
Thanks again for taking the time and trouble to help me out.

Kind regards

Jim

(can anyone help me with the rest?)

Posted: January 21st, 2010, 2:35 pm
by ezwa
I'm not 100% sure about all of them but... Here you are, Jim: http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/ez/Bnames_jimmowatt_20100121.mp3

Posted: January 22nd, 2010, 2:41 am
by jimmowatt
Hurrah!
Thankyou Ezwa and Julila.

Does anyone know whether the beginning of Cherasco is a ch sound or a k sound?

You are both quite wonderful.
And now to assuage my conscience.
Do either of you want to nominate a Librivox chapter for me to read or shall I pick one myself?

Regards

Jim

Posted: January 23rd, 2010, 7:26 am
by ezwa
jimmowatt wrote:[...] Do either of you want to nominate a Librivox chapter for me to read or shall I pick one myself? [...]
Well, Jim, since you ask... why not pick a chapter for either of these two projects : http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19217 and http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18863 ?

;-)

Posted: January 23rd, 2010, 3:16 pm
by jimmowatt
ezwa wrote:
jimmowatt wrote:[...] Do either of you want to nominate a Librivox chapter for me to read or shall I pick one myself? [...]
Well, Jim, since you ask... why not pick a chapter for either of these two projects : http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19217 and http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18863 ?

;-)
Ouch!
You are cruel
I'm quivering in terror even at the possibility

Posted: January 23rd, 2010, 11:19 pm
by ezwa
I was just kidding, Jim.

You'll pick something to record if you want (not from either of the two projects I nominated, I presume. Though I don't understand why you're quivering in terror at the possibility of recording in French. For Dutch, I could understand... But I'm sure Julie would tell us otherwise. ;o).

Posted: January 24th, 2010, 1:49 pm
by jimmowatt
ezwa wrote:I was just kidding, Jim.

You'll pick something to record if you want (not from either of the two projects I nominated, I presume. Though I don't understand why you're quivering in terror at the possibility of recording in French. For Dutch, I could understand... But I'm sure Julie would tell us otherwise. ;o).
Even French words frighten me.
The sounds seems to emanate from the back of the mouth and I have trouble forming a sound from there.
Anyways, I think I've decided which project to record for and it's one I started as a solo a million years ago - the St George for England.