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Re: How Would You Pronounce This Name?
in reply to a message by Jema
bern-(n)ard lou-ee or bern-(n)ard lou-is (as in, Lewis). Bern-(n)ar(d) can also work - you know, very soft or non-existent or nearly non-existent n and d sounds. The 'r' is very, very flattened in the second and fairly flattened in the first syllable. The pron. bern-ARRRRD or something that sounds like that is fairly common, but not common here and I find it incredibly ugly. I really hate the 'American' pron. of Bernard I hear on TV shows. I don't know how ubiquitous it is or how regional it may be, but I find it gross. I first heard bern-ARRRRD in an American film, so it may not be American but I associate it as being such. It’s horrible.When I say Bernard, both syllables have a fairly even tone. If there is stress on one more than the other, it isn't a strong stress. It's a bit like how I would say Howard. Both syllables are neutral, with no particular tone, stress or emphasis difference. Any stress is on the first syllable and never on the last. Louis has probably has stress towards the end.Sorry if I offend anyone. Just NAAARRD makes me feel ill.
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