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小天使(181)-Trouble with 'Olivia'

(2006-07-22 21:57:19) 下一个
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by 冰溪
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Trouble With 'Olivia'

Although we considered a number of names, including some Chinese ones that would also work in America, it was very easy for us to name our first girl Olivia when I was pregnant as both my husband and I liked the name.

When Olivia recently complained to me that I couldn’t pronounce her name correctly, it hurt me very much.

“Mom, you named me Olivia and you can’t even pronounce it right.” she said.

Ouch!

So with her and Daddy’s help, I realized that when I say her name quickly, I don’t have any problem but when I say her name slowly, I tend to prolong the “ee” sound. I tend to pronounce her name O-lee-vee-a rather than O-liv-ia.

I practiced to pronounce it correctly and I have to pay special attention in order to get it right, but I still revert to the old pronunciation from time to time. It is frustrating.
 
What baffles me is that Evan, who about a month ago couldn't even say her full name (he'd call her "Via") can now pronounce it perfectly just like all other Americans apparently. Is it because he was born here and I was not?
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冰溪 回复 悄悄话 谢谢黄颜开导和asalways 的鼓励, I am sure I can get it:)
黄颜 回复 悄悄话 成年人受母语影响较深,不太容易接受外语:)
一家四口,就你一个人有这个问题:)
母语跟母语比,外语跟外语比,你比他们三个都厉害:)
asalways 回复 悄悄话 “Is it because he was born here and I was not? ” 有道理,不是发音“错”了,而是“有口音”啊。起个英文名字还有这个烦恼啊,女儿COMPLAIN了,只有改了。 :(

也许只能硬着头皮告诉女儿,“I have accent, maybe just like how you pronounce your own Chinese name? And I'm improving!”

女儿会理解的,老妈也会改掉发音的,嗯.

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