The Unpronounceable: Difference between revisions

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Foreign names can be difficult to pronounce for English speakers, but the [[Starfish Language|names of aliens and monsters are often worse still]].
Foreign names can be difficult to pronounce for English speakers, but the [[Starfish Language|names of aliens and monsters are often worse still]].


In the mildest version, the character's name is simply [[Overly Long Name|unusually long]], set up with a phonetic maze like a tongue twister, or merely linguistically bizarre even given where it originates; [[Doctor Who (TV)|Romanadvoratrelundar]], [[The Simpsons|Nahasapeemapetilon]], [[Crossing Jordan|Vijayaraghavensatyanaryanamurthy]], [[Godzilla|Tatopoulos]], [[Alan Dean Foster|Abalamahalamatandra]], [[Transformers|Witwicky]]. Pronouncing names like these correctly is a sign of linguistic skill. Mispronouncing them is [[Hilarity Ensues|allegedly funny]].
In the mildest version, the character's name is simply [[Overly Long Name|unusually long]], set up with a phonetic maze like a tongue twister, or merely linguistically bizarre even given where it originates; [[Doctor Who|Romanadvoratrelundar]], [[The Simpsons|Nahasapeemapetilon]], [[Crossing Jordan|Vijayaraghavensatyanaryanamurthy]], [[Godzilla|Tatopoulos]], [[Alan Dean Foster|Abalamahalamatandra]], [[Transformers|Witwicky]]. Pronouncing names like these correctly is a sign of linguistic skill. Mispronouncing them is [[Hilarity Ensues|allegedly funny]].


In practice, most languages contain at least one sound, or sound combination, not allowed in English. Names containing such sounds will always be unpronounceable, though spelling may obscure this. Naturally, this works both ways. English has more sounds than most other major languages, and its speakers pile up consonants in ways which the rest of the world wouldn't dream of, so it is rich in unpronounceable names. Some languages even have linguistic variables that don't affect meaning at all in English -- most famously, changing the tone of a Chinese word changes its meaning, whereas in English tone doesn't do much other than change the emphasis of a sentence.
In practice, most languages contain at least one sound, or sound combination, not allowed in English. Names containing such sounds will always be unpronounceable, though spelling may obscure this. Naturally, this works both ways. English has more sounds than most other major languages, and its speakers pile up consonants in ways which the rest of the world wouldn't dream of, so it is rich in unpronounceable names. Some languages even have linguistic variables that don't affect meaning at all in English -- most famously, changing the tone of a Chinese word changes its meaning, whereas in English tone doesn't do much other than change the emphasis of a sentence.
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== Film ==
== Film ==
* Both used and parodied at the same time by ''[[Men in Black (Film)|Men in Black]]'' with the Twins, identical aliens that maintain the MIB database. One has a name that is completely incoherent (to one editor, it sounds like "beedlebeelep"; to another, it sounds more like "vrrweep".) [[Aerith and Bob|The other is "Bob"]] .
* Both used and parodied at the same time by ''[[Men in Black (Film)|Men in Black]]'' with the Twins, identical aliens that maintain the MIB database. One has a name that is completely incoherent (to one editor, it sounds like "beedlebeelep"; to another, it sounds more like "vrrweep".) [[Aerith and Bob|The other is "Bob"]] .
** It uses the infamous Welsh gurgle-sound, technically called a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_lateral_fricative voiceless alveolar lateral fricative].
** It uses the infamous Welsh gurgle-sound, technically called a [[wikipedia:Voiceless alveolar lateral fricative|voiceless alveolar lateral fricative]].
* None of the syllables we've heard from [[Star Wars|the Wookiee language]] sound like they could form "Chewbacca", so presumably it's a loose approximation of the character's real name.
* None of the syllables we've heard from [[Star Wars|the Wookiee language]] sound like they could form "Chewbacca", so presumably it's a loose approximation of the character's real name.
** Which makes little sense, since his son's name Lumpawarrump, means 'son of courage'. It's possible that wookie names come from another language
** Which makes little sense, since his son's name Lumpawarrump, means 'son of courage'. It's possible that wookie names come from another language
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* An ancient [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien]] in Phillip Reeve's [[Steampunk]] [[Space Opera]] ''[[Larklight]]'' has a real name in a musical-sounding languages which the narrator says he can't possibly transcribe. And that's not even getting into names such as Ph'Ahrpuu'xxtpllsprngg, and the truly epic example from the third book that takes up almost five lines. <ref>It's KrxckKckarrakkkaclkkx akka Xkaggoxka-akx Klllxklplx-atgnsl'xkkanklxlk'abhz nhahmak'k'k'k'k'a-akkamkajrkrkkrkrkrkwkllukk KrxckKckarrakkkaclkkx akka Xkaggoxka-akx Klllxklplx-atgnsl'xkkanklxlk' abhz nhahmak'k'k'k'k'a-akkamkajrkrkkrkrkrkwkllukk, barring errors in transcription.</ref>
* An ancient [[Sufficiently Advanced Alien]] in Phillip Reeve's [[Steampunk]] [[Space Opera]] ''[[Larklight]]'' has a real name in a musical-sounding languages which the narrator says he can't possibly transcribe. And that's not even getting into names such as Ph'Ahrpuu'xxtpllsprngg, and the truly epic example from the third book that takes up almost five lines. <ref>It's KrxckKckarrakkkaclkkx akka Xkaggoxka-akx Klllxklplx-atgnsl'xkkanklxlk'abhz nhahmak'k'k'k'k'a-akkamkajrkrkkrkrkrkwkllukk KrxckKckarrakkkaclkkx akka Xkaggoxka-akx Klllxklplx-atgnsl'xkkanklxlk' abhz nhahmak'k'k'k'k'a-akkamkajrkrkkrkrkrkwkllukk, barring errors in transcription.</ref>
* From [[Roger Zelazny]]'s ''[[Book of Amber]]'' series, Strygalldwyrr. Or however you spell that. (That's Welsh, but still.)
* From [[Roger Zelazny]]'s ''[[Book of Amber]]'' series, Strygalldwyrr. Or however you spell that. (That's Welsh, but still.)
* In [[Spider Robinson]]'s ''Time Travelers Strictly Cash'' from the ''[[Callahans Crosstime Saloon (Literature)|Callahans Crosstime Saloon]]'' series, he reveals the alien Mickey Finn's real name to be "Txffu Mpwfs" as far as the narrator can tell.
* In [[Spider Robinson]]'s ''Time Travelers Strictly Cash'' from the ''[[Callahan's Crosstime Saloon (Literature)|Callahans Crosstime Saloon]]'' series, he reveals the alien Mickey Finn's real name to be "Txffu Mpwfs" as far as the narrator can tell.
** Which, incidentally, happens to be "Sweet Lover" with each letter incremented by one.
** Which, incidentally, happens to be "Sweet Lover" with each letter incremented by one.
** He has another story featuring an evil wizard who has protected himself from [[I Know Your True Name|vulnerability through his name]] by subtly altering human evolution until their larynxes are physically unable to pronounce it.
** He has another story featuring an evil wizard who has protected himself from [[I Know Your True Name|vulnerability through his name]] by subtly altering human evolution until their larynxes are physically unable to pronounce it.
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* In one ''[[Keeping Up Appearances]]'' episode, Hyacinth's father had a female friend with a Polish surname that none of the other characters knew how to pronounce. However, this was solely due to Polish spelling; the actual pronunciation was approximately 'Zoey'.
* In one ''[[Keeping Up Appearances]]'' episode, Hyacinth's father had a female friend with a Polish surname that none of the other characters knew how to pronounce. However, this was solely due to Polish spelling; the actual pronunciation was approximately 'Zoey'.
** There was another episode in which Rose was engaged to a Polish man whose name baffled all the characters (and was never seen on-screen), so they all just called him "Mr. Whats-it".
** There was another episode in which Rose was engaged to a Polish man whose name baffled all the characters (and was never seen on-screen), so they all just called him "Mr. Whats-it".
* The Doctor in ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' has occasionally dropped vague hints that his real name is unpronounceable by humans (which makes more sense, given his abbreviation of "Romana" for Romanadvoratrelundar). Other times, it just seems like he doesn't have one.
* The Doctor in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' has occasionally dropped vague hints that his real name is unpronounceable by humans (which makes more sense, given his abbreviation of "Romana" for Romanadvoratrelundar). Other times, it just seems like he doesn't have one.
** [[Russell T Davies]] also has a love for this trope — the two most egregious examples being:
** [[Russell T Davies]] also has a love for this trope — the two most egregious examples being:
*** Blon Fel Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen from the planet Raxacoricofallapatorius. Getting the planet's name right became a [[Running Gag]].
*** Blon Fel Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen from the planet Raxacoricofallapatorius. Getting the planet's name right became a [[Running Gag]].
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== Music ==
== Music ==
* For several years, recording artist [[Prince]] [[The Trope Formerly Known As X|changed his name to a glyph]] resembling O(+ > in order to work around the terms of a record deal.
* For several years, recording artist [[Prince]] [[The Trope Formerly Known As X|changed his name to a glyph]] resembling O(+ > in order to work around the terms of a record deal.
* The band [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%21%21%21 !!!]. It's supposed to be pronounced "click-click-click" like in Southern African languages.
* The band [[wikipedia:chr(21)chr(21)chr(21)|!!!]]. It's supposed to be pronounced "click-click-click" like in Southern African languages.
* The Czech [[Grindcore]] band, !T.O.O.H.!
* The Czech [[Grindcore]] band, !T.O.O.H.!
* Witch House, a microgenre with band names that look like they should have Zalgo as a frontman. More prominent acts include ~▲†▲~ and ▲⃝ ▲⃝ ▲⃝
* Witch House, a microgenre with band names that look like they should have Zalgo as a frontman. More prominent acts include ~▲†▲~ and ▲⃝ ▲⃝ ▲⃝
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** No wonder Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili decided to re-name himself as Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin. Well, aside from the whole "Man of Steel" propaganda value...
** No wonder Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili decided to re-name himself as Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin. Well, aside from the whole "Man of Steel" propaganda value...
* La-a. Pronouced 'la-dash-a' [http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2009/10/ledasha-legends-and-race-part-one (though it's most likely an urban legend)].
* La-a. Pronouced 'la-dash-a' [http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2009/10/ledasha-legends-and-race-part-one (though it's most likely an urban legend)].
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titin Titin] (full name is [http://luminaryuprise.wikidot.com/longest-word here])
* [[wikipedia:Titin|Titin]] (full name is [http://luminaryuprise.wikidot.com/longest-word here])
** That's about as close to [[Futurama|Nibblonian]] as human languages can get. ''189,819 letters long, people!''
** That's about as close to [[Futurama|Nibblonian]] as human languages can get. ''189,819 letters long, people!''
* When Mrs. Anneli Jäätteenmäki became Finland's Prime Minister some years back, she was supposedly reported in the British radio as Mrs. Unpronounceable.
* When Mrs. Anneli Jäätteenmäki became Finland's Prime Minister some years back, she was supposedly reported in the British radio as Mrs. Unpronounceable.
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* Tibetan, in the Wylie transliteration, is pretty bad about this too: there is a Tibetan Buddhist sect named "Bka' brgyud", pronounced "Kagyu".
* Tibetan, in the Wylie transliteration, is pretty bad about this too: there is a Tibetan Buddhist sect named "Bka' brgyud", pronounced "Kagyu".
** That's a common problem in transcription, namely whether to follow the written or spoken language. Wylie preferred an accurate representation of Tibetan as written, there's another common transcription based on the usual pronunciation. See also Thai Prime Minister ''ABHISIT Vejjajiva'' -- second name pronounced "Whetta''chee''wa".
** That's a common problem in transcription, namely whether to follow the written or spoken language. Wylie preferred an accurate representation of Tibetan as written, there's another common transcription based on the usual pronunciation. See also Thai Prime Minister ''ABHISIT Vejjajiva'' -- second name pronounced "Whetta''chee''wa".
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfe%2B585,_Senior Hubert Blaine Wolfe+ 585, Senior] has a full name which, when typed out, takes up 746 characters. It is: Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfe&shy;schlegelstein&shy;hausenberger&shy;dorffvoraltern&shy;waren&shy;gewissenhaft&shy;schaferswessen&shy;schafewaren&shy;wohlgepflege&shy;und&shy;sorgfaltigkeit&shy;beschutzen&shy;von&shy;angreifen&shy;durch&shy;ihrraubgierigfeinde&shy;welche&shy;voraltern&shy;zwolftausend&shy;jahres&shy;vorandieerscheinen&shy;wander&shy;ersteer&shy;dem&shy;enschderraumschiff&shy;gebrauchlicht&shy;als&shy;sein&shy;ursprung&shy;von&shy;kraftgestart&shy;sein&shy;lange&shy;fahrt&shy;hinzwischen&shy;sternartigraum&shy;auf&shy;der&shy;suchenach&shy;diestern&shy;welche&shy;gehabt&shy;bewohnbar&shy;planeten&shy;kreise&shy;drehen&shy;sich&shy;und&shy;wohin&shy;der&shy;neurasse&shy;von&shy;verstandigmen&shy;schlichkeit&shy;konnte&shy;fortplanzen&shy;und&shy;sicher&shy;freuen&shy;anlebens&shy;langlich&shy;freude&shy;und&shy;ruhe&shy;mit&shy;nicht&shy;ein&shy;furcht&shy;vor&shy;angreifen&shy;von&shy;anderer&shy;intelligent&shy;geschopfs&shy;von&shy;hinzwischen&shy;sternartigraum, Senior. And yes, Senior is part of his last name.
* [[wikipedia:Wolfe%2B585, Senior|Hubert Blaine Wolfe+ 585, Senior]] has a full name which, when typed out, takes up 746 characters. It is: Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfe&shy;schlegelstein&shy;hausenberger&shy;dorffvoraltern&shy;waren&shy;gewissenhaft&shy;schaferswessen&shy;schafewaren&shy;wohlgepflege&shy;und&shy;sorgfaltigkeit&shy;beschutzen&shy;von&shy;angreifen&shy;durch&shy;ihrraubgierigfeinde&shy;welche&shy;voraltern&shy;zwolftausend&shy;jahres&shy;vorandieerscheinen&shy;wander&shy;ersteer&shy;dem&shy;enschderraumschiff&shy;gebrauchlicht&shy;als&shy;sein&shy;ursprung&shy;von&shy;kraftgestart&shy;sein&shy;lange&shy;fahrt&shy;hinzwischen&shy;sternartigraum&shy;auf&shy;der&shy;suchenach&shy;diestern&shy;welche&shy;gehabt&shy;bewohnbar&shy;planeten&shy;kreise&shy;drehen&shy;sich&shy;und&shy;wohin&shy;der&shy;neurasse&shy;von&shy;verstandigmen&shy;schlichkeit&shy;konnte&shy;fortplanzen&shy;und&shy;sicher&shy;freuen&shy;anlebens&shy;langlich&shy;freude&shy;und&shy;ruhe&shy;mit&shy;nicht&shy;ein&shy;furcht&shy;vor&shy;angreifen&shy;von&shy;anderer&shy;intelligent&shy;geschopfs&shy;von&shy;hinzwischen&shy;sternartigraum, Senior. And yes, Senior is part of his last name.
** Taking it apart and translating it, however, [http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/permalink/worlds_longest_surname/ makes it look like a hoax that got past the radar]. And anyway, wouldn't a name that cumbersome have been rejected by authorities?
** Taking it apart and translating it, however, [http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/permalink/worlds_longest_surname/ makes it look like a hoax that got past the radar]. And anyway, wouldn't a name that cumbersome have been rejected by authorities?
* Even Irish people struggle to pronounce Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh ("blaw-nid nee khuffigh")
* Even Irish people struggle to pronounce Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh ("blaw-nid nee khuffigh")
** The Gaelic languages in general are a nightmare to sound out until you know something about the phonetics (which are weird and vaguely resemble Russian), and Scots Gaelic has a lot of unnecessary (i.e. no longer pronounced) letters that Irish got rid of in spelling reforms. Even then, the consonants aren't too bad, but the vowels can be... inscrutable (the only time a vowel is unambiguously itself is when it has an accent on it). Overall, Scots and Irish Gaelic spellings are a barely-comprehensible mishmosh of historical and phonetic spellings... and then you have Manx Gaelic, whose spelling is mercifully based on English phonetics... from four centuries ago. Old Irish spelling resembles modern spelling simplified, but is mercifully phonetic and nowhere near as tangled as its descendants. [[I Need a Freaking Drink|Still, it's best taken with a bottl o da fookin' wiskie.]]
** The Gaelic languages in general are a nightmare to sound out until you know something about the phonetics (which are weird and vaguely resemble Russian), and Scots Gaelic has a lot of unnecessary (i.e. no longer pronounced) letters that Irish got rid of in spelling reforms. Even then, the consonants aren't too bad, but the vowels can be... inscrutable (the only time a vowel is unambiguously itself is when it has an accent on it). Overall, Scots and Irish Gaelic spellings are a barely-comprehensible mishmosh of historical and phonetic spellings... and then you have Manx Gaelic, whose spelling is mercifully based on English phonetics... from four centuries ago. Old Irish spelling resembles modern spelling simplified, but is mercifully phonetic and nowhere near as tangled as its descendants. [[I Need a Freaking Drink|Still, it's best taken with a bottl o da fookin' wiskie.]]
* A train station in Wales is known by the name [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UK_longest_railway_sign.jpg Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerchwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch].
* A train station in Wales is known by the name [[wikipedia:File:UK longest railway sign.jpg|Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerchwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch]].
** Welsh. Just Welsh. <ref>Also known as Cymraeg. Or Gymraeg, or Nghymraeg. Welcome to the wonderful world of Welsh initial mutations.</ref>
** Welsh. Just Welsh. <ref>Also known as Cymraeg. Or Gymraeg, or Nghymraeg. Welcome to the wonderful world of Welsh initial mutations.</ref>
* The volcanic glacier that has ruined air travel in Europe is named Eyjafjallajökull. Admittedly, not unpronounceable for someone from Iceland, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jq-sMZtSww for everyone else it's quite difficult]... For the record, it's approximately AY-a-fyat-la-yer-kuttle, with the T-sounds pronounced very lightly.
* The volcanic glacier that has ruined air travel in Europe is named Eyjafjallajökull. Admittedly, not unpronounceable for someone from Iceland, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jq-sMZtSww for everyone else it's quite difficult]... For the record, it's approximately AY-a-fyat-la-yer-kuttle, with the T-sounds pronounced very lightly.
** When Seth Meyers reported on the disaster for [[Saturday Night Live|Weekend Update]], he [[Lampshaded]] and [[Subverted]] it by referring to it as "Iceland's -- I hope I'm saying this right: ''volcano''."
** When Seth Meyers reported on the disaster for [[Saturday Night Live|Weekend Update]], he [[Lampshaded]] and [[Subverted]] it by referring to it as "Iceland's -- I hope I'm saying this right: ''volcano''."
** Slightly easier on the tongue is another Icelandic volcanic glacier, and until recently a more famous one, Snæfellsjökull.
** Slightly easier on the tongue is another Icelandic volcanic glacier, and until recently a more famous one, Snæfellsjökull.
* Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamish_people a group of indigenous people] from southwestern British Columbia. Also mercifully called Squamish, which according to Wikipedia is probably the closest to the pronunciation (which is roughly sk-HU-mesh, with the h being pronounced like a Spanish J).
* Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, [[wikipedia:Squamish people|a group of indigenous people]] from southwestern British Columbia. Also mercifully called Squamish, which according to Wikipedia is probably the closest to the pronunciation (which is roughly sk-HU-mesh, with the h being pronounced like a Spanish J).
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%27a7mes St'a7mes], a village/reserve of the indigenous Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. Also known as Stawamus.
** [[wikipedia:Stchr(27)a7mes|St'a7mes]], a village/reserve of the indigenous Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. Also known as Stawamus.
** And [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X%CC%B1wemelch%27stn Xwemelch'stn] (Homulchesan), and...you know what, just go to Wikipedia's article on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamish_Nation Squamish Nation] and get the full list, because there are a bunch of these names in Squamish ''and'' a number of other tribes in the area with equally overpunctuaed names.
** And [[wikipedia:X%CC%B1wemelchchr(27)stn|Xwemelch'stn]] (Homulchesan), and...you know what, just go to Wikipedia's article on [[wikipedia:Squamish Nation|Squamish Nation]] and get the full list, because there are a bunch of these names in Squamish ''and'' a number of other tribes in the area with equally overpunctuaed names.
* Nuxálk (a Native American language up in the Pacific Northwest) has the word ''xłp̓x̣ʷłtłpłłskʷc̓''. Means "he had in his possession a bunchberry plant". Not only are there no vowels, there's nothing that could even function as a vowel. And yet, people can still say it.
* Nuxálk (a Native American language up in the Pacific Northwest) has the word ''xłp̓x̣ʷłtłpłłskʷc̓''. Means "he had in his possession a bunchberry plant". Not only are there no vowels, there's nothing that could even function as a vowel. And yet, people can still say it.
* Prince, when his name consisted of nothing but a symbol.
* Prince, when his name consisted of nothing but a symbol.
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* Some drugs and medicines have chemical names that are ridiculously long and hard to pronounce. Of course, the formal names are for the benefit of doctors and technicians who need to know exactly what they're handling, but they can be quite unwieldy for laypeople.
* Some drugs and medicines have chemical names that are ridiculously long and hard to pronounce. Of course, the formal names are for the benefit of doctors and technicians who need to know exactly what they're handling, but they can be quite unwieldy for laypeople.
* The host in a radio program about etymology: "This word goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root which cannot be written with our alphabet, and I also cannot pronounce it." Eh... But at least, [[Take Our Word for It|he knew what it was]].
* The host in a radio program about etymology: "This word goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root which cannot be written with our alphabet, and I also cannot pronounce it." Eh... But at least, [[Take Our Word for It|he knew what it was]].
** Although this is less [[The Unpronounceable]] and more "we're not entirely sure what the Proto-Indo-European language sounded like, but we've got a pretty good idea". However, there are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laryngeal_theory three sounds in it which have disappeared completely in all modern languages]: they are transcribed as h1, h2 and h3, but nobody really knows how they were pronounced.
** Although this is less [[The Unpronounceable]] and more "we're not entirely sure what the Proto-Indo-European language sounded like, but we've got a pretty good idea". However, there are [[wikipedia:Laryngeal theory|three sounds in it which have disappeared completely in all modern languages]]: they are transcribed as h1, h2 and h3, but nobody really knows how they were pronounced.
* The "Chef Boyardee" line of prepared Italian foods was named that by Ettore Boiardi, because he feared his name's real spelling would be subjected to this trope. Most rural Americans in the 1920s were unfamiliar with Italian names.
* The "Chef Boyardee" line of prepared Italian foods was named that by Ettore Boiardi, because he feared his name's real spelling would be subjected to this trope. Most rural Americans in the 1920s were unfamiliar with Italian names.
* Spend just a few minutes at a zoo's exhibit of native Mongolian wild horses, and you'll hear every conceiveable pronunciation of "Przewalski". Except, perhaps, the correct one ("sher-wall-ski").
* Spend just a few minutes at a zoo's exhibit of native Mongolian wild horses, and you'll hear every conceiveable pronunciation of "Przewalski". Except, perhaps, the correct one ("sher-wall-ski").
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* Based on anatomical reconstructions done by archaeologists, it is believed that the Neanderthals were completely incapable of pronouncing the letter E. Basically, that means that most of our languages would have been completely unpronounceable to them.
* Based on anatomical reconstructions done by archaeologists, it is believed that the Neanderthals were completely incapable of pronouncing the letter E. Basically, that means that most of our languages would have been completely unpronounceable to them.
* Kyrgyzstan.
* Kyrgyzstan.
* You can thank [[Aristophanes]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lopado%C2%ADtemacho%C2%ADselacho%C2%ADgaleo%C2%ADkranio%C2%ADleipsano%C2%ADdrim%C2%ADhypo%C2%ADtrimmato%C2%ADsilphio%C2%ADparao%C2%ADmelito%C2%ADkatakechy%C2%ADmeno%C2%ADkichl%C2%ADepi%C2%ADkossypho%C2%ADphatto%C2%ADperister%C2%ADalektryon%C2%ADopte%C2%ADkephallio%C2%ADkigklo%C2%ADpeleio%C2%ADlagoio%C2%ADsiraio%C2%ADbaphe%C2%ADtragano%C2%ADpterygon this one.]
* You can thank [[Aristophanes]] for [[wikipedia:Lopado%C2%ADtemacho%C2%ADselacho%C2%ADgaleo%C2%ADkranio%C2%ADleipsano%C2%ADdrim%C2%ADhypo%C2%ADtrimmato%C2%ADsilphio%C2%ADparao%C2%ADmelito%C2%ADkatakechy%C2%ADmeno%C2%ADkichl%C2%ADepi%C2%ADkossypho%C2%ADphatto%C2%ADperister%C2%ADalektryon%C2%ADopte%C2%ADkephallio%C2%ADkigklo%C2%ADpeleio%C2%ADlagoio%C2%ADsiraio%C2%ADbaphe%C2%ADtragano%C2%ADpterygon|this one.]]
* When Mount Ruapehu ("roo-uh-pay-hoo"), an active volcano in New Zealand, started re-erupting in 1995, various news anchors in America were visibly linguistically challenged in the process.
* When Mount Ruapehu ("roo-uh-pay-hoo"), an active volcano in New Zealand, started re-erupting in 1995, various news anchors in America were visibly linguistically challenged in the process.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu], the longest place name in the world according to the Guiness Book of Records, is located in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand. And that's just the short form.
* [[wikipedia:Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu|Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu]], the longest place name in the world according to the Guiness Book of Records, is located in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand. And that's just the short form.
* In 1989 Dundee United FC signed a player from what was then Yugoslavia, called Miodrag Krivokapić. He was booked in his very first match, and the TV coverage showed a close-up of an incredulous referee saying "''What???''" after asking him for his name, then turning to his linesman and exhaling slowly. It is not recorded whether the referee considered letting him off with a verbal warning instead...
* In 1989 Dundee United FC signed a player from what was then Yugoslavia, called Miodrag Krivokapić. He was booked in his very first match, and the TV coverage showed a close-up of an incredulous referee saying "''What???''" after asking him for his name, then turning to his linesman and exhaling slowly. It is not recorded whether the referee considered letting him off with a verbal warning instead...
* A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shibboleths shibboleth] is a word or phrase used to sort out spies. These most often work by using sounds that members of the enemy group find difficult to pronounce, or that only a native speaker could possibly properly pronounce.
* A [[wikipedia:List of shibboleths|shibboleth]] is a word or phrase used to sort out spies. These most often work by using sounds that members of the enemy group find difficult to pronounce, or that only a native speaker could possibly properly pronounce.
* Back in the 1970s and early 80s, if you were a member of the Swedish pop group [[ABBA]] and your name wasn't Benny Andersson, the chances were pretty good that the next non-Scandinavian broadcast journalist to interview you would butcher at least part of your name.
* Back in the 1970s and early 80s, if you were a member of the Swedish pop group [[ABBA]] and your name wasn't Benny Andersson, the chances were pretty good that the next non-Scandinavian broadcast journalist to interview you would butcher at least part of your name.
* Csaba Csere, a longtime editor of ''Car and Driver'' magazine. A blurb in the magazine's 50th anniversary issue claims that, when he was asked what the correct pronunciation of his name was, he simply responded with: "Csaba Csere."
* Csaba Csere, a longtime editor of ''Car and Driver'' magazine. A blurb in the magazine's 50th anniversary issue claims that, when he was asked what the correct pronunciation of his name was, he simply responded with: "Csaba Csere."
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[[Category:Truth in Television]]
[[Category:Truth in Television]]
[[Category:The Unpronounceable]]
[[Category:The Unpronounceable]]
[[Category:Trope]]