Kanako (one of about 5 people who have ever viewed my blog) keeps reminding me that I don’t update it often enough. So here goes. Are you happy, Kanako?
As a poor student of German (2 years in college) I at least know how German words are pronounced. That’s why it irks me every time there’s a Hitler documentary on TV the narrator invariably calls Hitler’s mistress “Eva BrAWn.” However, in German, Braun should be pronounced “Brown.” It bugs me. Just thought I’d get that off my chest.
Similarly, I’ve noticed an inability to pronounce Goebbels, Goering and Roehm.
However, I’m not a fanatic and I myself pronounce it HiroSHEEMA instead of HirOHshuhma.
I had a professor in college who pronounced “Soviet Union” as SAHviet Union. I’ve never heard anyone else pronounce it that way. That bugged me, too. Still another pronounced “joust” as “joost.” Okay, it’s French–or has a French origin, but come on! English history is so much a part of America that every schoolboy knows about “JOUSTing.” Jowst. Just had to say that.
