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From: deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Pronouncing your name in another language
Message-ID: <1995Jan15.185659.7786@midway.uchicago.edu>
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Reply-To: deb5@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
References: <3f5tif$l5o@nic.umass.edu> <1995Jan14.232114.15618@midway.uchicago.edu> <3faaim$bit@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 1995 18:56:59 GMT
Lines: 35

In article <3faaim$bit@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com> Marek1@ix.netcom.com (Marek Konski) writes:
>In <1995Jan14.232114.15618@midway.uchicago.edu> deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu 
>(Daniel von Brighoff) writes: 

>>This often causes more harm than good, unless you're a phonetic wonder.
>>If you're talking to a Dane and mangle K0BENHAVN, she'll have no idea
>>what you're talking about.  If you simply use its common English name,
>>Copenhagen, which she's been accustomed to since she started English
>>in school, you'll spare both of you a lot of trouble.

>What if I use another sort of its common name -- COPENHAGA, to which she 
>has not been accustomed? 
>
>I see that languages are equal but some of them tend to be more equal.

	I used the example because, since the poster was writing in
English, I assumed he would be speaking to my hypothetical Dane in
English.  I don't recognise offhand the language in which "Copenhaga"
is the common form, but I'm sure if you were speaking that language with
a Dane, she would know that form.

	As for "equality," no one said anything about languages
being equal.  Danes learn English from an early age and are generally
extremely adept at using it for international communication.  There's
no claim of the inherent linguistic superiority of English associated
with that decision, it's strictly a practical choice.

(Note to Mr. Konski:  please edit down the posts you respond to, if
possible.  Reproducing the entire post is unnecessary and results
in a lot of added expense for providers and users alike.)

-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
