Pronunciation of Foreign People’s Names

The significance of the correct pronunciation of foreign people’s names is being generally underestimated. Most of the time people do not pay sufficient attention to the propriety of utterance of these names; moreover, they tend to utter them according to the phonological rules of their own languages, whereas they disregard the general principles of pronunciation belonging to the language that the discussed person uses. Since people are not aware of the consequences that a mispronounced name could entail their way of pronunciation is habitual. However, their unawareness might result in a creation of unwelcome consequences. Firstly, an incorrect pronunciation of a person’s name might entail an undesirable impact that could even insult its owner. Furthermore, a mispronunciation of these names might lead to misunderstandings in the communication process. Finally, by focusing on the pronunciation of names of foreign origin, the diversity of pronounced forms in all languages might be reduced to a minimum. Resulting from this, people should try to pronounce the names of foreign people in the most similar way possible to their originals.
In terms of tactfulness, a correct pronunciation of foreign people’s names could be eminently essential since its inappropriate interpretation may bring about unfavourable consequences. A person’s name is a characteristic that he carries all his life. Beside its distinguishing effect, it also serves as an individual feature of a person’s identity. Since it is carried for life people feel strongly connected to it; moreover, they tend to develop personal associations towards it. Resulting from this, it becomes gradually an inseparable element of its owner’s personality. However, due to the vast diversity of the phonological

rules between languages, an incorrectly pronounced name could result into a converted form that could be offensive, or even humiliating to its owner. For instance, the correct utterance of the Slovak surname Šatan distinguishably varies from the way of pronunciation that is generally accepted in English. Pronouncing this name according to the phonological principles used in English language, a direct association with Satan, the spirit of evil, might arise.