BROADCASTING PRONUNCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24296, 13 May 1940, Page 4

BROADCASTING PRONUNCIATION

I’O THE EDITOB Sir, —1 wish to protest against the new pronunciation of the names of certain towns in the various broadcasts from 4YA. One of the towns or villages affected by the floods last week was Otakia. This was pronounced differently by two different announcers from the local station, and neither pronunciation was the one the local residents have been used to for the past 40 years or more. One pronunciation was given as “ Otakea,” making the “i” sound “ e,” while the other was presumably meant for the Maori pronunciation, and gave emphasis to the first syllable “ Ota.” The announcer from 4ZB, on the other hand, gave the pronunciation we have always been used to. and rightly so. This is with the emphasis on the “i.” Another word the announcer from 4YA

got tangled up in was Otekaike, but in order that his hearers would not be confused over it he afterwards gave the local pronunciation. Why not keep to the local pronunciations instead of causing confusion and irritation to listeners by attempting to give the Maori interpretation of these names? If the announcer is not fully conversant with the local pronunciations of Otago towns and districts I would advise that he take a tour around and become more familiar with them. —I am. etc.. Old Taieri Boy, May 11.