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Select a language. Spanish Latin America. English American. Chinese Mandarin. He is using French in Action as a teaching aid the book only and has each of us read short sections in French and then translate them into English. Our teacher insists that, for Robert, we use the French " Rob-are" and not the English "Rob-urt" when reading in French. I argue that it is common practice to pronounce the young American's name as closely as reasonably possible in the way he is regularly known.
In other words, a translation or should I say inflection? Another student of French and Italian insists that a girl called Mary is called Maria in the translation, and vice versa.
Ever heard of Mary Callas? However, I note that when listening to French radio, the announcers use the names the parents gave to the artists performing.
Why change them? By the way, the class uses the same pronunciation for Robert's French friend Mirielle in both English and French! My research in this forum suggests that there is no fixed rule. But my interest is in common practice, not rules.
It seems that there are less in favour of translating given names than there are in favour of it. Keeping in mind that I shall respectfully show any responses to our teacher, I should be very pleased to have other's notions on this subject. I swear I have read this exact same post elsewhere, maybe six months ago??
Have you posted this before? Anyway, in my experience, the French pronounce foreign names with French sounds, saying "Ro-bare" for Robert, or "Sa-maaan-ta" for my own name Samantha. One of the weirdest ones I've ever heard was the pronunciation of Penelope Cruz's name as "Pen-e-lope" with the lope rhyming with rope.
I've never heard people translate the actual name into the French version though - I mean, people wouldn't translate Peter to Pierre, they'd just say "Peter" with a French accent. My French friends insist on pronouncing "Joseph", my name, in the French fashion Joo-zef, I suppose, is the phonetic spelling. I think the French are a bit like that!
For a bit of "immersion French" my teacher renames students to French counterparts - Guillaume for William, for example. However, in reality, the French would never do that. However, by convention, my middle name would remain in its English form, albeit with a French pronounciation! So, to respond to your question in short However, they will not change names like your Maria-Mary example, or my Benoit-Benedict.
Why not pronounce Robert, Rob-are? It is, after all, another opportunity to get your tongue around the French language! Mireille and Robert would be well known to many French learners.
I tend to agree with that and, as a consequence, try to address people as they are accustomed to being addressed. Happily, both you and jbs addressed only the question of what is happening in practice. I doubt he would visit so often as Mick Bubble.
Click to expand Hello, Just an opinion from an old french person. There is not a single rule for pronouncing "english" names, and words too. We not fluently english speakers frenches adopt any pronunciation, what is most important is the first person you hear pronouncing this name or word. If we believe this person is an expert, we do the same until we find better expert or until somebody explain why another way is better. Problems rise when the name or word is one existing french name or word ; we of course use the french pronunciation, until somebody tell us to say another way.
Specially if "Robert" is in front of you and asks you to pronounce his name "Rob-urt", we agree to call him this way. For english speaking french people, we adopt the english pronunciation of course Now about translating Mary into Maria, we don't but could not must change later to follow majority, no rule for that. The rule changed with time. Everybody says "Maria Callas", but now the general rule is to not translate names.
Be aware that for german names or words pronunciation in french, the situation is worst, the rule being to follow the majority. Smr is right that most of the time first names are not translated and are pronounced as best as one can Robert is easy in French, Hugh, Heather or Warren are more difficult.
There are notable exceptions though, such as historical figures or popes. Grop Senior Member Provence. Hello, I find it very odd to change the spelling of a name Why Maria? Marie is far more common and it is closer to Mary. Now, it is quite common to change the pronounciation, especially if the name does exist in French as a common firstname like Marie and Robert if it is a classic one Abraham and Adam are biblic, and Penelope was Ulysse's wife in the Odyssee.
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