QotD: Repeat After Me...
How have people mispronounced your name? How is it supposed to sound?
Submitted by Lorie.
You know...this has been a thorn in my side for many, many years.
Some of you know my name. Many of you, do not. As it's the year of nudity (and I have nothing to hide)...My name is NOTHING complicated or difficult in nature. In fact, I believe it's one of the simplest names out there. My name is Cheryl.
Ironically, as simple as this name is...I'm astounded by the volume of people who pronounce it - Shirl.
In those moments when I am being particularly bitchy, I have been known to try and correct people, by explaining that it's two syllables, prounounced She*ryl. I would get vacuous stares and occasional smirks as if to say, "whatever." But names are important, at least to me. If my parents named me Shirl, I'd be fine with it...it is what it is. But that is NOT my name.
I still have some cousins and such that call me Shirl, I've learned better than to correct any of them. It's pointless to do so when we've been through the debate for years. Gradually, I've just given way to the intimate nickname Cherrie. It helped those unable to make it over the hump.
But you better NEVER call me Shirley. That might get you kicked.
Comments
but you know we americans are lazy speakers, and we sight read, linking what we see with what's most familiar. most see cheryl (che-ryl)and immediately read sheryl (shur-ryl), not realizing there's a distinctive, yet subtle, difference in the pronunciation of the two. embracing cherrie is a genius way to steer those lazy tongued fellows in the right direction though. kudos to you!
now... how do i get people to stop automatically calling me angie? i soooooooooo hate that. *giggle*
DeWitte is a tough name. I hear anything from De-White to Deewitty to deewitt to dew-wit or just doit. It's just dee-wit or deewit (faster). You'd think I was from a foreign land. My boss called me Dewitty once and I looked at him and said "Uh, no". He didn't do it again. There is only one person who actually calls me that from time to time and I don't hassle her and she is the accountant who works here. I figure having been here for like 20 years entitles you to some shenanigans once in a while without getting hassled.
@DeWitte: Dewitty??? Are you serious?
Interestingly enough, my father called me Sherry. He never spelled 'Sheryl' properly either. Ha! I guess I should have asked my mom, but I guess she must have been the one to choose the name.
Did you ever have people sing that Sherry baby song? Or My Cherie amour? lololol...Hate that.
I don't think any name is safe from becoming a song on the lips of a clod -- I had that "Rooooxxxxxx--aaannnnn" red-light-district song sung to me a million times before I ever heard the real thing .. and by the most inappropriate people, too, like my male 3rd grade teacher, lol
SHARE-RILL.
@ sheryl: my father used to sing that to me all the time when i was little. i thought it was sweet up until around age four or five.
"I never sung that..."
wtf, was that???? I didn't drink my breakfast. I promise.
I'm often mistaken for Lisa or Lee, which annoys me to DEATH! I've taken to saying "Reese, as in Reese Witherspoon. You know, the actress?" Believe it or not, I've had people look at me funny and not recognize her name!
Well that's a relief.
people are so f*ing dumb that it astounds the imagination....
shirl?
...............
oh my god I HATE when people pronounce Cheryl "Shirl". And I have a friend named Cheryl that pronounces it that way! It just goes against my nature to pronounce it that way, but if that's the way she says it, I try to say it that way too! Ick!
And my last landlord's name was Shirl. short for Shirley. Took me a while to figure out that it wasn't an abomination of Cheryl.
Hed.
Heddy Hopper.
Hopper.
Hopperstopper
Bup.
Buppie.
Hop.
Hoppy.
annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd the timeless classic: SIbby.
A thang you.
*slaps your coffee mug out of your hand and runs off*
You're acting like you won't be in Austin in a few weeks big talker. S'alright. I'll save a dried up scor-peen just for you.
*throws Mr.D's punk panties on you*