People with uncommon names often hear them mispronounced. They say it can be annoying, but also hurtful. A person’s name often reflects their background, identity, or family history. When others bungle the pronunciation, those with unusual names sometimes report feeling excluded and different, as if they don’t belong. Listen to people with less common names explain why they care about proper pronunciation and what people can do when they’re not sure how to pronounce a name.
Story Length: 3:13
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January 28, 2021
6:54
Poet Amanda Gorman never expected to become a public speaker. Although she composed poetry from a young age, her speech impediment made it difficult for her to pronounce certain words. Recently, though, she stood at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and delivered an original poem at the inauguration ceremony for President Joe Biden. At age 22, she is the youngest poet ever to receive that honor. Listen to Gorman describe why the event held special meaning for her, how she prepared for it, and why she sometimes revises her poems at the last minute.
Read MoreDecember 8, 2020
2:17
The deaf community is considering how to say “Joe Biden” and “Kamala Harris” in sign language. Each of the country’s newly elected leaders has distinct characteristics, such as wavy hair or trademark sunglasses, that might translate into a sign. With the help of technology, the process of choosing new signs has become more inclusive, increasing the likelihood that they will be culturally sensitive. Listen to hear more about how new signs are chosen, and learn which ones are being considered for Biden and Harris.
Update: Since this story aired, the deaf community has agreed to use a name sign for Vice President Kamala Harris signifying a lotus, which is the meaning of her first name. A name sign has not yet been adopted for President Joe Biden, so fingerspelling is being used to represent him.
Read MoreApril 17, 2020
4:53
Teens in Argentina are pushing to make Spanish gender-neutral. They say the rules of the language favor men over women and exclude nonbinary people. The Royal Spanish Academy argues that it is important to maintain the purity of a language that has been spoken for hundreds of years. Listen to hear more about the dispute over changing Spanish and then debate: Should the Spanish language be gender-neutral?
Read MoreNovember 18, 2013
4:09
We often think of Shakespeare’s verse as grand, beautiful and proper. The British Library has analyzed the rhyme of Shakespeare’s work and discovered the original pronunciation and dialect of his writings when they were first performed at the Globe Theater. Listen to hear how Shakespeare may have sounded 400 years ago.
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