2008-09-15

Pronunciation question

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Please comment on the two names below. How would you pronounce them? Do they give you trouble?


Hemn

Djed


Thank you.

12 comments:

  1. I'm assuming you don't need me to comment here.

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  2. .

    Of course you two would be the first to comment.

    Anyone else?

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  3. Hem and Jed (the second is a 'best guess') Both annoying and likely to be misspelt forever.

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  4. I'd have to echo chosha. I'd say Hem and Jed. That "D" and that "n" have to be silent. It's the only way my brain will let them make sense . . .

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  5. From my linguistical perspective, Chosha's got the best grip of it...the /m/ and /n/ of Hemn would blend together to our English ears. Djed might come closer to /dZEd/ (Dizhed)

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  6. Hem, yes. Why not "Dyed"? (rhymes with "dead")

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  7. .

    I agree. They're ancient Egyptian names and appear in a story I'm working on, but Edgy and the Fob are giving me Halifax over them. Too me, the simple Hem-Jed solution is obvious and natural (I, contrary to common understanding, eschew hard-to-pronounce names in fiction).

    Given their provenance and their basic pronouncability, do you mind them in a work of fiction?

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  8. I wouldn't mind them in a work of fiction. Though they're unusual, I wouldn't get hung up on how to pronounce them each time I saw them . . .

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  9. I wouldn't have a problem with that. Probably like most readers I'd just decide what I thought the pronunciation was and use it. And if you become famous it will give your fans something to ooh and ahh over with insider joy when they one day see an interview where you explained the pronunciation.

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  10. .

    I like that version of events.

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  11. .

    Oh, and hey--Chosha---since you're hear, I've been meaning to ask you (but can't at your site): Why no more comments at your blog?

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