Sorry, can't do it, can't call it "Porscha"

[jwetering]

Ugh - this is in OT now. Talk about embarrasing.

I'm out.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Z-man

+1.

And isn't it a bit pretentious to continue to mis-pronounce a name once you know the correct pronunciation?

What's the point? Why stop with just Porsche? Why stop with just incorrect pronunciation? What about numbers? Like speed limits? I can see it now, "But officer, I just mis-read "Speed Limit - 55" to be "Lowest Speed allowed - 75." That's how I learned it from the beginning, and yeah, people have pointed out that the sign really says "Speed Limit 55" but I will continue to read it as "Lowest Speed Allowed - 75." That's why I was driving 95 in my Porsch.

It will be anarchy, I tell ya...

-Zoltan.

PS: With a name that often is misspelled (don't even start with the mis-pronunciations!) I guess I'm sensitive towards stuff like this.

Honestly, how is it possible to either misspell or mispronounce "Zoltan"?

[masraum]

For all of the Canadians, of course you guys should call it "Porsh". You automatically add "eh" to the end of everything already, so pronouncing it porsh should me that it comes out as "Porsch eh" which should be perfect.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by masraum

... You automatically add "eh" ...

Oui-eh

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by masraum

Honestly, how is it possible to either misspell or mispronounce "Zoltan"?

I have seen all of these and more...
Zoltar
Zolton
Zolten
Zultan
Voltar
Voltan
Sulatan
Soltan
Zsoltan
Zolter
Salter

As for pronounciation - it is all over the charts. Most folks start with "Soul-ten.") Technically, my name is spelled, "Zoltán" with an accent on the a. However, the first part of my name has the same weight as the second part, in terms of pronunciation. (Think: Zoul-taaan.) However, when most people see the accent, or I try to explain the pronunciation, they will just stress the second part of the name, making it sound more Italian than anything else. (think Zol-taaan). And most will soften the "Z" into an "S" which is also incorrect. Hungarian is a very peculiar language -- some of it may seem simple, but we Hungarians LOVE to screw with other nations!!

What worse is this: when on the phone, and someone is asking for my name, the will ask, "What is your FIRST name, sir?" I will respond, "My first name is Zoltan. Z-O-L-T-A-N." They will reply, "Thank you for your last name -- now, may I have your first name please?" (At this point, I want to reach through the phone and strangle the person on the other end!) Instead, I reply, "I GaVE YOU MY FIRST NAME. You asked for my first name, and I told you my first name is, ZOLTAN. Now, would you like my last name?"

Yeah, I got issues, but my therapist says I'm doing much better ever since I got over my clown phobia...

Geez - I've managed to derail this thread quite well -- apologies to the OP.
-Z-man.

[haycait911]

Originally Posted by masraum

For all of the Canadians, of course you guys should call it "Porsh". You automatically add "eh" to the end of everything already, so pronouncing it porsh should me that it comes out as "Porsch eh" which should be perfect.

at least when we say 'water' it has a 'T' in it, not two 'D's' .

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by masraum

Honestly, how is it possible to either misspell or mispronounce "Zoltan"?

I have always wondered, is it Zee-man or Zed-man??

[m21sniper]

When i first got my 928 i corrected some hot chick that was clearly into me, that i'd just met, on how it was pronounced.

After she told me "Go Fk yourself you pretentious snob," i stopped correcting people.

I could really care less, one way or another.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

When i first got my 928 i corrected some hot chick that was clearly into me, that i'd just met, on how it was pronounced.

After she told me "Go Fk yourself you pretentious snob," i stopped correcting people.

I could really care less, one way or another.

So I'm guessing you rode back alone...

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

I have always wondered, is it Zee-man or Zed-man??

Depends -
In Canada, it's pronounced, "Zed-man."

In the USA, it's pronounced, "Poopy-head."


-Z

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

So I'm guessing you rode back alone...

Correct. No nookie for snipey that night, but i did go home in a Porschaaaaaaah.

[porsche4life]

I'm a product of the south and I pronounce it PorschUH... I also do not change it depending on the company... I try not to correct someone unless it is someone I am close enough to that I can do it in a ribbing manner... I always let them know it doesn't really matter to me.... I have had several people ask me the proper pronunciation... I am sure to explain it to them...


On the snob part..... Well everyone around here has always thought that of me anyways.... Something about the fact that I dress nice and drive nice vehicles...

Damn rednecks....

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Z-man

IWhat worse is this: when on the phone, and someone is asking for my name, the will ask, "What is your FIRST name, sir?" I will respond, "My first name is Zoltan. Z-O-L-T-A-N." They will reply, "Thank you for your last name -- now, may I have your first name please?"

-Z-man.

Z-man you should change your last name to John or Bob.

[billybek]

I just finished watching the Porsche Ultimate Factories (finally caught it on the PVR) and it was amazing that the only a few (German) people in the program pronounced it Porsche with a very soft "uh" at the end. The narrator pronounced it Porsch.
I don't care either way but if I was addressing someone with this surname, I would try to pronounce it properly.

[911Rob]

simple process for me. It's someones name and in my line of bizzyness, names are important. If someone calls it porsh, I dont sweat it, but I dont, fwiw?

[scottmandue]

To simplify things I just call mine Bruce...

[speeder]

Originally Posted by billybek

I just finished watching the Porsche Ultimate Factories (finally caught it on the PVR) and it was amazing that the only a few (German) people in the program pronounced it Porsche with a very soft "uh" at the end. The narrator pronounced it Porsch.
I don't care either way but if I was addressing someone with this surname, I would try to pronounce it properly.

Exactly. It's a super-soft sound at the end, whether you hear it completely depends on the structure of the sentence.

"Poorsha" is as wrong as "Poorsh".

[maxnine11]

Denis nailed it !

I find porsh- UGH more annoying than PORSH.

Just open your mouth after the first syllable and the required second (faint) syllable almost comes out on its own.

[Hendog]

I grew up knowing it as Porsh. I've since learned it is a family name. I always try to pronounce someones name correctly, so now I pronounce it "Porsha".

However, this family has lent their name to a product. I knew it as a product before I knew it as a family name. I have come to call it correctly as Porsha because I now know from where the name comes, and with time it has become easier to say it that way; it was a little weird at first. When in the company of others who do not know the source of the name, I'm fine with however they pronounce it. It's fair game I say because it is a product.

Once you lend your name to a product, it's the consumer's option to say it as he/she sees fit. There's no personal introductions or nothing of the sort to guide the person after all. We all mispronounced Hyundai and probably still do.

BTW I was born in Saskatoon

[dagriff]

I am not German, therefore I don't know how to pronounce German words. So, I guess I could pronounce Porsche "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

I am not French so I pronounce Paris Par-is, not Pari.

I am not Swedish, so I pronounce Gothenburg, Gothe-en-burg, not Jœteˈbɔrj.

What I'm saying is, if it's a foreign word, just do your best......

BTW. Basil is Baz-il, not Bay-zil.
Herb is Her-b, not Erb.

Lever is...... etc, etc.