Pronunciation

Much has been written about the ‘correct’ pronunciation of words, particularly as they pertain to borrowing words from other languages, or in dealing with regional variations. It is tempting to proclaim there is one correct pronunciation or spelling of a certain word, but that is not the case.  At least we can console ourselves that it’s not like it was in Shakespeare’s day, when people spelled words pretty much however they pleased.  The proliferation of printed books has, in part, solidified spelling to a large degree. But what about pronunciation of foreign words? Do we pronounce Budapest  ‘Boo-da-pescht’ because that is the way Hungarians say it? Do we say ‘PAP – ee – ay Ma - shay’ instead of the bastardized English version, paper ma - shay? Do we  pronounce  Valet as the French do Val – LAY or as the Brit’s bastardized version, VAL– lit.

I ,for one, try…