The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » A Pronounced Problem On 680 News

RadioActive · February 16, 2025 2:42 pm

I'm not sure if this was someone confronting unread copy or simply didn't know how to properly pronounce things, but the woman (whose name I won't use to save her any further embarrassment) reading the news on 680 needs someone to take her aside and have a private word with her.

In the space of less than 10 minutes Sunday, I heard talk about getting a taste of spring, as the Blue Jays began spring training in "Dun-Din" (Dunedin to the rest of us, the place they've been at for decades), with excitement building over new Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Max Shirt-stir (aka Scherzer.)

A few minutes later, she talked about the Pope fighting a "bot" of bronchitis. I suppose that's the evil computer version of a "bout."

I hope she was just having a bad day, but getting Dunedin wrong - especially when Rogers owns both the team and the station - is just inexcusable.

newsguy1 · February 16, 2025 2:56 pm

I worked with a woman once who read a sports story about NFL star Johnny Unitas, which she pronounced OO-nee-tass.
She later went on into a management position.
But apart from this 680 announcer I am fed up with so many people mispronouncing words that are in newscasts repeatedly.
It's FentaNIL, not FentaNOL. Even doctors get it wrong for cryin' out loud.
It's Mis-chuh-vus, not Miss-chee-vee-us.
And of course it's Nyoo-klee-ar, not Nuke-yoo-lar.
Also in sports, Dee-kath-lon, not Dee-kath-ah-lon.

I could go on and on...

Chrisphen · February 16, 2025 3:28 pm

If I recall correctly, Ken Cassavoy (one of the OG staffers in their 'news' era) left in disgust at the rank amateurism of the station's operation.

Easily Amused · February 16, 2025 3:45 pm

I agree that newsrooms need to get pronunciation correct, but go back 50+ years when WGR TV's sports announcer broadcast that the Sabres had acquired 'Ree-nee Roberts' from the Penguins. René Robert was the final member of the storied French Connection line. And this broadcaster was very high up in the station's sports department.

newsguy1 · February 16, 2025 4:14 pm

It's forgivable when Americans mangle French names, but I had to laugh the other day when I was watching the left-leaning YouTube political channel called The Meidas Touch
Host Ben Meiseles was talking about comments from Canada's minister, Melanie Jolly
He called her MEL-ah-nee JOLLY like the Jolly Roger.

Skywave · February 16, 2025 4:38 pm

And given the month we're in, my pet peeve of Feb-you-airy, instead of Feb-rooh-airy Unfortunately, even at the revered BBC where they once had pronunciation police, this misuse is now excused as "common usage".
You can look it up next time you go to the Lie-berry.

Saul · February 16, 2025 6:40 pm

newsguy1 wrote:
It's forgivable when Americans mangle French names, but I had to laugh the other day when I was watching the left-leaning YouTube political channel called The Meidas Touch
Host Ben Meiseles was talking about comments from Canada's minister, Melanie Jolly
He called her MEL-ah-nee JOLLY like the Jolly Roger.

If they had her name spelled correctly, as Joly, there would have been much less chance of error.

Dale Patterson · February 16, 2025 7:35 pm

I heard at announcer at CHIC years ago refer to a fly ball as a "flea ball."

I kid you not.

Chrisphen · February 16, 2025 8:07 pm

When I say the word 'Guajillo' many people scowl.

mace · February 17, 2025 8:13 am

Chrisphen wrote:
When I say the word 'Guajillo' many people scowl.

I have never seen that word. Not a clue as to its meaning and pronunciation.

mace · February 17, 2025 8:19 am

The Des Plaines River flows southward for 133 miles through Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The correct pronunciation is diss playnz.

Saul · February 17, 2025 10:05 am

mace wrote:
Chrisphen wrote:
When I say the word 'Guajillo' many people scowl.
I have never seen that word. Not a clue as to its meaning and pronunciation.

Cook with one, but don't wipe your eyes ...

Capricasix · February 17, 2025 10:52 am

Chrisphen wrote:
When I say the word 'Guajillo' many people scowl.

I’m going to guess gwa-hee-yo.

Amber Gero presented The World This Hour on CBC at 8.00 this morning. She was reading a story about the archipelago of Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, but she pronounced archipelago as “archi-pe-LA-joe”. I think I made this face 😳

Saul · February 17, 2025 12:51 pm

Capricasix wrote:
Amber Gero presented The World This Hour on CBC at 8.00 this morning. She was reading a story about the archipelago of Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, but she pronounced archipelago as “archi-pe-LA-joe”. I think I made this face 😳

There should be a Gulag for people who mispronounce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHKLGqxSTTE

Chrisphen · February 17, 2025 1:37 pm

Saul wrote:
mace wrote:
Chrisphen wrote:
When I say the word 'Guajillo' many people scowl.
I have never seen that word. Not a clue as to its meaning and pronunciation.
Cook with one, but don't wipe your eyes ...

I used them to make a lovely al pastor marinade for pork. The pork and pineapple kebabs were then barbecued with applewood for smokey goodness. Turned out great.