Feld Notes

Jan 2020

Since arriving in the US, the most amusing thing that I’ve experienced is seeing the looks on people’s faces (in service situations) when I have to provide my first name. I’ve had to resort to pronouncing it in an American accent in order to be understood. 😂

Michael Camilleri

I've had a similar experience in Japan. Sometimes there's nothing to be done but switch to a rhotic 'r'.

Martin Feld

@pyrmont Oh you too?! 😂 What a pain... I’ve travelled before but it has never been as much of an issue as it is here. Also, thanks for reminding me of the word ‘rhotic’—I had a total mental blank on that term when discussing the ‘r’ sound with @NTKF.

Jan Erik Moström

I feel the pain. Try explain how to pronounce/spell "Moström" ... after having travelled to mainly English speaking countries for many years it was really nice to go to Germany. No explanations, they just wrote down my name 👍🏻

Martin Feld

@jemostrom Oh I wouldn’t even pretend to have the same difficulty as someone like you (with an umlaut in your name). I commend you on your years of perseverance! Although I must say that my surname, ‘Feld’, is almost always pronounced as ‘Field’. That never ceases to be annoying haha.

Jan Erik Moström

😀 I know one German/Swedish guy who claims that he always get picked for “Random Security Check” and claims that is because he has an ö + an ü in his name 😂

Martin Feld

@geofftaylor It’s amazing how quickly it changes! If I may ask, what is your family’s cultural/linguistic background with the non-rhotic ‘r’?

Martin Feld

@jemostrom Ergh that’s both funny and a shame... it only takes one character!