How Do You Say That Name Again?
2023-12-14
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1News reporters, politicians and public figures have had trouble saying some of the words that relate to the top stories of the year year.
2Last week, the online language learning company Babbel released its lists of the most mispronounced words in the United States and Britain.
3The two lists are a reminder of the year's news on everything from scientific discoveries to politics.
4Babbel teacher Malcolm Massey noted the diversity of the words.
5This year's words come from several different languages.
6"I think a lot of it is due to how close our cultures have become because of how globalized things are," Massey said.
7A popular singer who spells her name S-Z-A is on the U.S. list.
8Babbel notes her name is pronounced SIZ-uh,[short I sound].
9The first name of another entertainer is also on the list.
10Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor who starred in this summer's hit as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
11His first name is pronounced KI-lee-uhn.
12Other pronunciations on the U.S. list include the name of biotech businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who is a Republican presidential candidate.
13The correct way to say his name is Vih-VAKE Rah-mah-SWAH-me.
14Two volcanoes were also on the list - Mexico's Popocatepetl, (Poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-til), and Hawaii's Kilauea, (Kee-lou-EY-uh).
15The winning word at this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee also made the U.S. list.
16That word was psammophile (SAM-uh-file.) It means any animal or plant that prefers sandy soils or areas.
17The coronation of King Charles in May helped put the Stone of Scone, (Stown uhv Skoon), on Britain's list.
18The holy stone rests beneath the Coronation Chair where a new king first receives his crown.
19Kristie Denlinger teaches linguistics at the University of Texas in Austin.
20She said hearing an unfamiliar word often enough can help someone master it.
21"Anything that is kind of different from what a speaker is used to, they can learn how to pronounce things in different ways than what they're used to, it just takes more exposure," Denlinger said.
22Massey said that as one learns a new pronunciation, it is important to "not stress perfection but progress over time, so practicing these words again and again."
23In some cases, the correct pronunciation is just a matter of personal choice.
24Earning a place on the U.S. list was the last name of Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs' American football player.
25Whether Kelce should be pronounced with one or two syllables, Kels or KEL-See, has been a subject even his own family talks about.
26Both Travis and his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, say their last name as KEL-see.
27On a podcast, they discussed with their father, Ed Kelce, how that pronunciation came to be.
28"I got tired of correcting people," said Ed Kelce, who said that his co-workers always called him KEL-see.
29Jason Kelce then asks: "Should we go by Kels or KEL-see?" His father answers: "Do whatever you want. I did."
30I'm Jill Robbins.
1News reporters, politicians and public figures have had trouble saying some of the words that relate to the top stories of the year year. Last week, the online language learning company Babbel released its lists of the most mispronounced words in the United States and Britain. 2The two lists are a reminder of the year's news on everything from scientific discoveries to politics. 3Babbel teacher Malcolm Massey noted the diversity of the words. This year's words come from several different languages. 4"I think a lot of it is due to how close our cultures have become because of how globalized things are," Massey said. 5Singers, actors and politicians 6A popular singer who spells her name S-Z-A is on the U.S. list. Babbel notes her name is pronounced SIZ-uh,[short I sound]. 7The first name of another entertainer is also on the list. Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor who starred in this summer's hit as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. His first name is pronounced KI-lee-uhn. 8Other pronunciations on the U.S. list include the name of biotech businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who is a Republican presidential candidate. The correct way to say his name is Vih-VAKE Rah-mah-SWAH-me. 9Two volcanoes were also on the list - Mexico's Popocatepetl, (Poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-til), and Hawaii's Kilauea, (Kee-lou-EY-uh). 10The winning word at this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee also made the U.S. list. That word was psammophile (SAM-uh-file.) It means any animal or plant that prefers sandy soils or areas. 11The coronation of King Charles in May helped put the Stone of Scone, (Stown uhv Skoon), on Britain's list. The holy stone rests beneath the Coronation Chair where a new king first receives his crown. 12Kristie Denlinger teaches linguistics at the University of Texas in Austin. She said hearing an unfamiliar word often enough can help someone master it. 13"Anything that is kind of different from what a speaker is used to, they can learn how to pronounce things in different ways than what they're used to, it just takes more exposure," Denlinger said. 14A personal choice 15Massey said that as one learns a new pronunciation, it is important to "not stress perfection but progress over time, so practicing these words again and again." 16In some cases, the correct pronunciation is just a matter of personal choice. Earning a place on the U.S. list was the last name of Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs' American football player. Whether Kelce should be pronounced with one or two syllables, Kels or KEL-See, has been a subject even his own family talks about. 17Both Travis and his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, say their last name as KEL-see. On a podcast, they discussed with their father, Ed Kelce, how that pronunciation came to be. 18"I got tired of correcting people," said Ed Kelce, who said that his co-workers always called him KEL-see. 19Jason Kelce then asks: "Should we go by Kels or KEL-see?" His father answers: "Do whatever you want. I did." 20I'm Jill Robbins. 21Jamie Stengle reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted this story for Learning English. 22________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24figure - n. a person who is well-known and important in some way. 25mispronounced - adj. not said in a correct way 26diversity - n. containing many very different elements 27globalized - adj. when people from one country link with people 28from another country in order to work or communicate with them 29coronation - n. the ceremony at which a king or queen is crowned 30linguistics - n. the science of language 31exposure - n. publicity, being seen or heard 32podcast - n. an audio file similar to a radio broadcast, that can be listened to on a website or app on your phone or computer 33What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.