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ancianita

(35,812 posts)
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 03:55 PM Jun 2020

Come ON, Nicolle.

It's AN-ti-Fa. Not an-TI-Fa. As in ANti-fascist.

Remember the emphasis corrections from Ka-MAH-la to KAH-ma-la?

Defending this as a to-MAY-to / to-MAH-to issue doesn't APply to emPHAsis in human and group names.

Respect.

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Come ON, Nicolle. (Original Post) ancianita Jun 2020 OP
That's a pretty teensy nit to be picking. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2020 #1
I hear you. ancianita Jun 2020 #2
Heh... Happy Hoosier Jun 2020 #3
Haha... ancianita Jun 2020 #5
I mentioned the discussion to my wife... Happy Hoosier Jun 2020 #18
I accept her stance. It's about common usage and will settle into a decision. ancianita Jun 2020 #19
I hate it when people put the emPHAsis on the wrong sylLAble. 11 Bravo Jun 2020 #9
Well..... that calls for..... Ginger and Fred whistler162 Jun 2020 #4
... ancianita Jun 2020 #6
Let's just call it "common sense." Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 #7
Sure. ancianita Jun 2020 #8
Maybe she's confusing it with Queen Latifah. nt tblue37 Jun 2020 #10
Likely! ancianita Jun 2020 #11
Why don't we just call it the tooth fairy? Everyone can pronounce that, and they're Squinch Jun 2020 #12
Or Auntie Mame? Sing broadway musicals as code for their presence. Everyone loves musical numbers. ancianita Jun 2020 #13
Your idea is MUCH better!!! Squinch Jun 2020 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author Totally Tunsie Jun 2020 #15
You say potato I say potato. You say I tomato I say tomato redstateblues Jun 2020 #16
That's vowel pronunciation. This is about emPHAsis. ancianita Jun 2020 #17

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,276 posts)
1. That's a pretty teensy nit to be picking.
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 04:01 PM
Jun 2020

Don't we have bigger fish to fry? And if you follow the general rules of English pronunciation, an-TI-fa is not incorrect.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
2. I hear you.
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 04:09 PM
Jun 2020

It comes out of my being an English teacher who taught pronunciation of new words back in the day. Especially in the context of reading and "getting" names and word emphases right.

Given that context, to me, it's not nitpicking.

It's about respecting the effort to get names and words right.

I'm standing my English teacher ground on this.





Happy Hoosier

(7,077 posts)
3. Heh...
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 04:13 PM
Jun 2020

My English Professor wife pronounces anTIfa, so you might get an argument from her. So does her linguist friend.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
5. Haha...
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 04:25 PM
Jun 2020

I'm not here to battle everyone, just to make what a valid pronunciation point. I've heard antifa people pronounce it ANtifa, so I'll go with them.

I certainly wouldn't argue with Kamala Harris about what emPHAsis I prefer. The British say la-BOR-a-tree, and I won't say a word. A name, however, should be pronounced the way the self-named say their name.

I used to say NI-ger, but then learned that its people say nee-JAIR, so I made the change.

Happy Hoosier

(7,077 posts)
18. I mentioned the discussion to my wife...
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 10:23 AM
Jun 2020

Her response: It's a kinda sorta portmanteau and so a newly made word. You can put the emphasis where it is comfortable to you. What is "correct" is really determined by common usage. We don't pronounce many words the way our ancestors did and neither of us are wrong. There is a usage argument to be made about emphasis on the first syllable in order to maintain connection to the root word, but again, common usage rules on a new word. Besides, the point is extremely minor on the face of black men being murdered. Say it the way you like and fight fascists.


That woman could do a lot better than me. I'm lucky.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
19. I accept her stance. It's about common usage and will settle into a decision.
Wed Jun 3, 2020, 10:31 AM
Jun 2020

My English professor husband takes a different stance from your professor wife. (I've taught at university level, as well.)

Of course it's extremely minor compared to the ruination all around us.

I also your perspective on its place in the larger picture. I was startled by Nicolle's pronunciation, is all.

Cuz (usage) Democrats handle both big and small issues at the same time.

Thanks for your post.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
7. Let's just call it "common sense."
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 04:30 PM
Jun 2020

As the "Antifa" name has been forever tainted with the association with a non-existent organization and images of sketchy anarchists/instigators engaging in property damage during otherwise peaceful demonstrations.

Being against fascism is the normal, default position of the majority of people in this country. No need to create special names for what amounts to basic common sense.

Squinch

(50,773 posts)
12. Why don't we just call it the tooth fairy? Everyone can pronounce that, and they're
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 04:43 PM
Jun 2020

essentially the same kind of thing.

Response to ancianita (Original post)

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Come ON, Nicolle.