The Importance of Spelling and Pronunciation For Travellers

 Some languages are phonetic, meaning the words are written the way they sound. That's fine, good if everybody in the coutnry pronounces the word the same way. It makes life easy for the tourist, when reading a sign or saying a word.

Italian Pronunciation

The Italians often pronounce the last syllable but one. Especially with ia. Maria. Trattoria.

However, to make yourself understood, often you need to pronounce the word like the locals. Even the name of their city. 

French Pronunciation

For example, in England we call the French capital Paris, as it is written. The French drop the last letter and say the vowel i like ee, Pa-ree. The French emphasize the last syllable.

I call London, London. If you asked me for Londra, I would have trouble understanding. I would be thinking launder, laundry?

 Once I had a pupil who came to me for English lessons, O level. I pointed out that Shakespeare ended with the letter e. She got very angry. She exclaimed, 'What does it matter!" 

The Importance of English Spelling

It matters a lot. Firstly, if I have to grade papers in an exam. Some exams pass you if you reach a certain standard. Other exams are competitions, selection exams, giving more marks to the best of a group of applicants for a job, In that case, if two candidates are otherwise equal, I will give extra marks to the careful worker who gets the spelling right. 

Names In Hospitals

Secondly, what happens when you are in a responsible job?  If you are treating patients at a hospital, sending an unconscious person for an oeration, or giving mothers the right baby, you must be sure to spell the name right.  

Correct Names In Restaurants, Hotels and Plane Ticket Bookings

Sometimes the hotel does not have your booking. I print off my reservation confirmation as a precaution. Once I was at the wrong Holiday Inn in Phoenix. I had not realised how llarge the city was. I saw a sign to holiday Inn and we drove in. Only after looking at the reservation form, did the receptionist realise that we were at the wrong branch of the hotel chain.

Another common misunderatnding comes from first names and family names. In Asia the family name comes first. My husband's first name is Trevor. I am often addressed as Mrs Trevor. 

At the time it is very stressful. Especially if the restaurant or hotel turns you away. But in retrospect you may find it funny and laugh.

Rude Pronunciation

In London I live near a road called Grimsdyke. An Indian friend pronounced it Grim's dick. I had to point out that a dyke is like a dam, a ridge with a ditch, a boundary, whilst a dick is an English slang term for a part of male anatomy.

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