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235 points volemo | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.586s | source
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miki123211 ◴[] No.43517478[source]
> Switch the language on foreign terms and names so that screen readers can pronounce them in the right voice.

Screen reader user here. Don't actually do this, this is bad advice.

Just like a lecturer won't suddenly switch to a German accent when saying words like "schadenfreude" or names like "Friedrich Nietzsche", neither should a screen reader. Having your voice constantly change under you for no apparent reason is distracting more than anything else.

What you should do this for are longer pieces of text in a foreign language, like a multi-paragraph piece of text to analyze in a foreign language textbook.

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TrayKnots ◴[] No.43517647[source]
Yea, I hate that. Words are pronounced differently in foreign languages. Do we say Moscow or Moskwa? Do we say ka-tana or ka-ta-na? If Freud is not spoken with the typical Gemran diphthong, then suddenly someone comes along and corrects you. I do speak German, I know how Freud is pronounced and I will pronounce it as it should be pronounced when speaking German, but when speaking English, it is Frood for me.

So, I am with you. We shouldn't learn the pronunciation of 200 different languages. If Kirchhoff's laws sound like Captain Kirk, who the fuck cares. Different languages pronounce stuff differently.

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currymj ◴[] No.43517927[source]
i agree with you in spirit (I pronounce Paris as Paris).

however I have never heard of someone pronouncing Freud as Frood, outside of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sobc2WhL16c

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1. TrayKnots ◴[] No.43518011[source]
Fair enough. Video doesn't play, but I believe you. I don't know where I heard froodian slip and frood, but I checked a few places where they pronounce it and all agree with you. Bet I will find more example as soon as enough time has passed so it would be weird to post it here. Damn you, Murphy.
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2. simsla ◴[] No.43527704[source]
I do agree with you in that I say "shampain" instead of "champann" (champagne) when I'm speaking English instead of French. Language is a tool for communication first and foremost.