Af?nistan
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Af?nistan
Why is it that the BBC has taken to referring to Afghanistan by some strange non-English pronunciation? Every time some PC-appointed newsface with otherwise perfect English mentions the word, it's Af-h-nistan or Af-u-nistan or some similar noise.....
Not a big point, but why do they do it?
Sorry to hear the latest news - RIP.
Not a big point, but why do they do it?
Sorry to hear the latest news - RIP.
BEags, I think the lady you refer to on tonights Beeb news is Asian (Michelle Hussein) and I guess she says it that way because that's the way it should be pronounced - although I have to confess it did sound a bit odd, as her accent is otherwise nothing other than very English.
While I'm on I think she's quite a looker aswell, sorry
While I'm on I think she's quite a looker aswell, sorry
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Anyone see the interview with CAS on the news today, where he lambasted the Govt for their foreign policies and chronic under funding of the Typhoon and those other bothersome bits of the RAF? No? Me neither……………….zzzzzzzzzz.
Right, that’s got samuraimatt off my back. Relevance to Mil aviation established!
Anyway, Beags old chap; believe you may have stumbled upon the successful implementation of a secret BBC memo outlining the requirement by Spangles and other Beeb babes to pronounce place names in the style of the residents of that place. Obviously this grand plan couldn’t be introduced comprehensively as the sophisticated viewing public would have seen right through it. No, I understand it will be brought in gradually, starting with those place names whose ethnic population are of greatest interest to the media and ending up with the Outer Hebrides.
I think it’s a great idea, guaranteed to assist in the seamless integration of our wonderfully diverse society. Well-done BBC!
On a similar note, does anyone think there’s merit in petitioning ‘Aunty’ for a revamp of the News broadcasters? Personally, I’d like to see a return of the full evening dress and presenters called Nigel or Chomondley-Warner, preferably both. Your thoughts?
Right, that’s got samuraimatt off my back. Relevance to Mil aviation established!
Anyway, Beags old chap; believe you may have stumbled upon the successful implementation of a secret BBC memo outlining the requirement by Spangles and other Beeb babes to pronounce place names in the style of the residents of that place. Obviously this grand plan couldn’t be introduced comprehensively as the sophisticated viewing public would have seen right through it. No, I understand it will be brought in gradually, starting with those place names whose ethnic population are of greatest interest to the media and ending up with the Outer Hebrides.
I think it’s a great idea, guaranteed to assist in the seamless integration of our wonderfully diverse society. Well-done BBC!
On a similar note, does anyone think there’s merit in petitioning ‘Aunty’ for a revamp of the News broadcasters? Personally, I’d like to see a return of the full evening dress and presenters called Nigel or Chomondley-Warner, preferably both. Your thoughts?
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The 'gh' in Pashtu is more of a 'rrrraaa' vibrating sound from the back of the throat rather than the 'gh' in though or trough.
So I think the BBC is trying to super PC and say it how people in Helmand Province would say it.
G
So I think the BBC is trying to super PC and say it how people in Helmand Province would say it.
G
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Doesn't irritate me as much as that BBC weatherman who always refers to North of the Border as "Sco'un", now he's started to call South of the Border "Ing".
Mishal Husain is a fluent urdu speaker (ISTR that a piece in the Times or the Torygraph revealed that she's bringing her son up in English, Urdu and Russian, which is either going to confuse the little mite or set him up for life linguistically...), and as she seems to be the prime 'culprit' over the pronunciation, I suspect that Wycombe's hypothesis and gijoe's observation pertain here. So in Mishal Husain's case, she says it like that since that's how she's pronounced it since childhood.
The farkers might be able to do '-istanese', but they still can't say 'Llanelli'!
They're taking the p$%s.
CG
who like the Murphy's, isn't bitter.
PS
(Sammy the prat- don't dare!)
They're taking the p$%s.
CG
who like the Murphy's, isn't bitter.
PS
(Sammy the prat- don't dare!)
Thread Starter
I'm surprised you guys didn't decide that 'Looo-tenant' was a bit French and change it to something else, along the lines of 'Freedom Fries'?
But you're right - pronouncing 'lieu' as 'left' is a bit daft and is probably a hangover from the Napoleonic Wars or something similar.
I don't think that the 'Af-h-anistan' thing is peculiar to Mrs Hussein - there was an in-theatre (or in-theater) reporter making the same noise last night. And he was what Plod might term an 'IC1 male'.
But you're right - pronouncing 'lieu' as 'left' is a bit daft and is probably a hangover from the Napoleonic Wars or something similar.
I don't think that the 'Af-h-anistan' thing is peculiar to Mrs Hussein - there was an in-theatre (or in-theater) reporter making the same noise last night. And he was what Plod might term an 'IC1 male'.