Earlier this week, while reviewing the Sept. 4, 2011, edition of “Meet the Press,” I was stupefied to see best selling author and highly regarded presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin mispronounce the word contretemps as [kon-truh-temps]. (The correct pronunciation is kon-truh-tahN , meaning that the N does not represent a consonant, and the ah is nasalized. Thus, the last syllable here rhymes with the last syllable in words such as bon vivant and rapprochement.) What particularly contributed to my astonishment is the fact that, over the last two or three decades, Ms. Goodwin has been a member of countless radio/television panels, hobnobbing with America’s most articulate.
[BTW, if you wish to check out that Sept. 4 edition of “Meet the Press” to see Ms. Goodwin’s blunder for yourself, click here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44391623#44391623
Her use of the word contretemps occurs just after 21 minutes into the clip.]
The most lamentable aspect of the above is the Ms. Goodwin will probably keep mispronouncing this word for years to come: My research indicates that when someone utters a glaring mispronunciation, no friends or acquaintances will point it out to him or her, fearing that the correction will be viewed as an unfriendly, even a hostile act.
Over the past couple of decades, there have been countless occasions when, as a sincere, well-meaning, and helpful gesture, I have informed a stranger--say a host or guest featured on NPR or some other news channel--of their mispronunciation. (Incidentally, I perform this “public service” by means of an extremely polite email or voice mail.) Never have I received so much as an acknowledgment. Weird.
© Copyright 2011 V. J. Singal
[BTW, if you wish to check out that Sept. 4 edition of “Meet the Press” to see Ms. Goodwin’s blunder for yourself, click here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44391623#44391623
Her use of the word contretemps occurs just after 21 minutes into the clip.]
The most lamentable aspect of the above is the Ms. Goodwin will probably keep mispronouncing this word for years to come: My research indicates that when someone utters a glaring mispronunciation, no friends or acquaintances will point it out to him or her, fearing that the correction will be viewed as an unfriendly, even a hostile act.
Over the past couple of decades, there have been countless occasions when, as a sincere, well-meaning, and helpful gesture, I have informed a stranger--say a host or guest featured on NPR or some other news channel--of their mispronunciation. (Incidentally, I perform this “public service” by means of an extremely polite email or voice mail.) Never have I received so much as an acknowledgment. Weird.
© Copyright 2011 V. J. Singal
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I listen to NPR a couple of hours a day and am shocked at some of the bad pronounciations -- AND bad grammar. Two I hear increasingly are incorrectly-used pronouns -- subjective instead of objective, and vice versa. Many folks say things like, "They gave them to my husband and I." It's so easy to "run a test" on how correct it "sounds" to you by omitting the first object, "husband," and say quietly, "They gave them to I." You'll immediately hear how bad that sounds. Then one can always learn the difference between subjective and objective pronouns. Another pet peeve I have -- also hearing it from young people, journalists, politicians, attorneys, and INCLUDING on NPR -- incorrect use of the past participle. This is where the USA is really going downhill. My HARVARD LAW magna cum laude attorney cousin recently told me, "The 49ers should have RAN the ball on the last series of plays."
ReplyDeleteI listen to NPR a couple of hours a day and am shocked at some of the bad pronounciation -- AND bad grammar. Two I hear increasingly are incorrectly-used pronouns -- subjective instead of objective, and vice versa. Many folks say things like, "They gave them to my husband and I." It's so easy to "run a test" on how correct it "sounds" to you by omitting the first object, "husband," and say quietly, "They gave them to I." You'll immediately hear how bad that sounds. Then one can always learn the difference between subjective and objective pronouns.
ReplyDeleteAnother pet peeve I have -- also hearing it from young people, journalists, politicians, attorneys, and INCLUDING on NPR -- incorrect use of the past participle. This is where the USA is really going downhill. My HARVARD LAW magna cum laude attorney cousin recently told me, "The 49ers should have RAN the ball on the last series of plays."
February 26, 2013 at 2:57 AM
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