[Opinions] Re: The use of names you cannot pronounce.
in reply to a message by Array
It depends. I have a somewhat related problem, because I like Rowena pronounced as I would sponteanously the Italian way, i.e. Ro-weh-na, which I much prefer to Ro-wee-na.
If it's only a slight variation I guess it's ok, especially as you're aware you're altering the original pronounciation, but I think for instance unless one is a fluent speaker of Chinese, Chinese names are better avoided, since the Chinese pronounciation system is so difficult to get right.
I've no idea how the Romanian pronounciation system works, but to make an analogy with Italian, I guess I could tollerate a little American Giovanni who calls himself Jee-ovannee rather than Jo-vannee because the "gi" sound is difficult to get for English speakers, whereas if it were pronounced "Go-vannee" or "Jo-vannay" it would irk me because it would be just a random and somewhat ignorant mispronounciation.
If it's only a slight variation I guess it's ok, especially as you're aware you're altering the original pronounciation, but I think for instance unless one is a fluent speaker of Chinese, Chinese names are better avoided, since the Chinese pronounciation system is so difficult to get right.
I've no idea how the Romanian pronounciation system works, but to make an analogy with Italian, I guess I could tollerate a little American Giovanni who calls himself Jee-ovannee rather than Jo-vannee because the "gi" sound is difficult to get for English speakers, whereas if it were pronounced "Go-vannee" or "Jo-vannay" it would irk me because it would be just a random and somewhat ignorant mispronounciation.