Italia, Deutschland, Espana, learn to spell - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Matata · 02-15-2008, 08:22 AM

I've always wanted to know why 'X' makes a 'ch' sound in chinese words. I've never heard of X making that sound in any latin based language.

Table 5 · 02-15-2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Similarily, the main ethnic group in Hungary are Magyars.

Hungary is called Magyarorszag in the native language. I'm actually pretty glad people call it Hungary, since it's one of the most butchered of all languages when people try to pronounce any names.

In terms of pronunciation with languages, I think the main problem is that English isn't very phonetic. If you keep that in mind with most European languages, you should be more or less ok...apart from the throaty stuff.

Barnes · 02-15-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip

....

Even Jesus is Yeshua (not sure on the spelling but if you sound it out that is close).

...

Jesus Christ is a made up name. His name was Yeshua son of Yosef in Hebrew or Joshuah son of Joseph in English. History has it all wrong.

Shocking, I know.

You Need a Thneed · 02-15-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnes

Jesus Christ is a made up name. His name was Yeshua son of Yosef in Hebrew or Joshuah son of Joseph in English. History has it all wrong.

Shocking, I know.

"Christ" isn't a name at all, it's a title. Sort of like "Steve Jobs, CEO."

You Need a Thneed · 02-15-2008, 10:00 AM

The country that used to be called "Ivory Coast" in English - now is called "Cote d'Ivoire" (It's French name) even in English.

I for one don't know why we don't call more cities and countries by the name they actaully use there, eiither. It would certainly help out our pronouciation of foreign languages too. Москва, München, Roma, etc, just sound so much cooler then Moscow, Munich, Rome.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 02-15-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

"Christ" isn't a name at all, it's a title. Sort of like "Steve Jobs, CEO."

Yeah, it comes from "kristos," meaning "anointed one." To "anoint" is to rub a scented oil on a guy's forehead, signaling that they're in the presence of God.

So.... I can see why we call him "Jesus Christ." "Oily Joshuah" just doesn't have that same ring.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 02-15-2008, 10:12 AM

By the way, in Icelandic, Germany is Þýskaland and the Netherlands is Holland.

In Icelandic, you have to translate names, because of the way nouns decline in the language. Unless you translate the name into a noun form that at least works in Icelandic, you literally can´t use the name in a grammatically correct sentence. So you can´t really insist on just going by "Michael" and expect that to fly.

You Need a Thneed · 02-15-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Yeah, it comes from "kristos," meaning "anointed one." To "anoint" is to rub a scented oil on a guy's forehead, signaling that they're in the presence of God.

So.... I can see why we call him "Jesus Christ." "Oily Joshuah" just doesn't have that same ring.

It's also the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah."

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 02-15-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

It's also the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah."

Etymology is fun. Unless you're, you know... not a nerd.

troutman · 02-15-2008, 11:11 AM

Moscow = Mokva
Prague = Praha
Cologne = Koln
Turin = Torino
Rome = Roma

llama64 · 02-15-2008, 11:30 AM

Calgary = Calgry

troutman · 02-15-2008, 11:37 AM

List of country name etymologies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...me_etymologies

A Real Geography Wiz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

RatherDashing · 02-15-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I thought about this while in Italy. I think we can handle saying Italia, and Roma (Rome) and Firenze (Florence) and Venizia (Venice). Why on earth do we need to 'englishize' it? Calgary is Calgary no matter what your native tongue is, just as New York is not Nouveau York or Mesa Arizona isn't Table Arizona.

Just seems stupid to me.

I don't think this is true. As I remember from taking Italian a few years ago, there was an Italian pronunciation of Calgary, although I can't remember what it was. Calgaria possibly?

PS-No, I'm not thinking of Cagliari.

kermitology · 02-15-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Moscow = Moskva
Prague = Praha
Cologne = Koln
Turin = Torino
Rome = Roma

FTFY

FlamesAddiction · 02-15-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RatherDashing

I don't think this is true. As I remember from taking Italian a few years ago, there was an Italian pronunciation of Calgary, although I can't remember what it was. Calgaria possibly?

PS-No, I'm not thinking of Cagliari.

Some European languages don't even have the letter "Y" in the alphabet (the "J" or "I" substitues).

FlamesAddiction · 02-15-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Hungary is called Magyarorszag in the native language. I'm actually pretty glad people call it Hungary, since it's one of the most butchered of all languages when people try to pronounce any names.

In terms of pronunciation with languages, I think the main problem is that English isn't very phonetic. If you keep that in mind with most European languages, you should be more or less ok...apart from the throaty stuff.

... And the lack of vowels in some of the languages. In some languages, the letter "R" behaves like a vowel, but for many English speakers, it's hard to make that connection.

But yeah, I know in Croatian, everything is practically phonetic. Many people will look at a word and not even attempt it. Like my last name for example... people will look at it and ask me how to say it... but it is 100% phonetic.... it's actually somewhat of a minor pet peeve.

Also, like another poster mentioned about Icelandic, there is the issue of nouns breaking down depending on the context of their use (known as inflection). That means that even some proper nouns should be translated from English in order to help them make sense within the rules of the language.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 02-15-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Some European languages don't even have the letter "Y" in the alphabet (the "J" or "I" substitues).

This is true. Icelandic has "Y" but only as a vowel. And we don't have "C" or "W"--so sometimes an alternate spelling is pretty much necessary.

Fozzie_DeBear · 02-15-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

This summer at the Beijing Olympics, the countries will march in the order of the Chinese Alphabet... that'll be really messed up!

I assume that means that they will use the Pinyin spelling of the countries names and them march them in alphabetically (using the Roman alphabet)?

FWIW Canada in Mandarin is Janada pretty easy...Canadian (person) is Janada-ren

Tyler · 02-15-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llama64

Calgary = Calgry

lollerskates

GirlySports · 02-15-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

I assume that means that they will use the Pinyin spelling of the countries names and them march them in alphabetically (using the Roman alphabet)?

FWIW Canada in Mandarin is Janada pretty easy...Canadian (person) is Janada-ren

Yes and I believe USA is Mei Guo and Italy is Yidali.
So the US team will be fairly close behind the Canadians and the Italians will be nearly dead last!