Re: Pronunciation Guide

In <b75388dd-ab04-43a4-840b-1c62b499e5be@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> "Edward A. Cowan" <eacowan@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:

I object to the proposition that pronouncing foreign words correctly
in context is necessarily pretentious. To pronounce "Rigoletto,"
listen to a recording in Italian. You will hear both t's pronounced,
as, indeed, all double consonants are in that language. A slight
"roll" on the r is also appropriate. (NOTE: I'm a language person who,
while not fluent in Italian, is at least minimally functional in it
and have used my little Italian in Italy itself...) Remember, too, not
to aspirate the consonants. To me, pronouncing "Rigoletto" as "wriggle-
eta" is simply not correct. To be sure, an over-pronunciation
("rrrrreeegho-LETT-to") is pretentious indeed. (As for wrong
pronunciations, has anybody listened lately to any Italian-language
opera sung by Germanic singers, those who perpetrate "kvess-t(h)o"
etc.?)

Bellini's _Norma_ is rightly pronounced "norr-ma". Marilyn Monroe's
original first name is "Norma" without the trill. <g> --E.A.C.

We're not disagreeing that much. But, first, it's difficult for most
English speakers to pronounce Rigoletto as an Italian would, so
an attempt to do so will often end up exaggerated or botched,
and therefore pretentious-sounding. Second, what's wrong with
someone speaking in English pronouncing "Rigoletto" in English,
any more than saying "Pair-iss" for "Paris"? Imagine an
American English speaker pronouncing "London" with a British
accent--that would be ridiculous, don't you think?
--
Jim
New York, NY
(Please remove "nospam." to get my e-mail address)
http://www.panix.com/~kahn
.

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