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Jack-in-the-box Posted 22 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
(Joan) Baez
According to J. C. Wells’ "Longman pronunciation dictionary", the surname spelt "Baez" is pronounced [bái ez] by some of the people who bear it, and [bai éz] by other people; nevertheless, "the singer Joan Baez prefers [baiz]", rhyming with "wise" [waiz] or "(French) fries" [fraiz].
I suppose that Wells is a very good authority, and I can rely on him. But here’s what I’ve found in internet (http://nwfolk.com/songlists/pronunciation_guide.html):
" Joan Baez: rhymes with "maze".
Source: Joan's autobiography "And a voice to sing with" ".
So, it should be [beiz], like "maze" [meiz].
Who is right? Do you know?
I am chiefly interested in knowing what pronunciation she uses, or prefers, herself.
Have you got her autobiography? Would you be so kind as to see and copy that passage for me? I would really appreciate that. (Sorry, I don't know the page number.)
I hope that my questions on the pronunciation of the surnames of single personalities, etc., don’t annoy or bore you; I need this information for professional reasons.
Many thanks for your kindness.
I suppose that Wells is a very good authority, and I can rely on him. But here’s what I’ve found in internet (http://nwfolk.com/songlists/pronunciation_guide.html):
" Joan Baez: rhymes with "maze".
Source: Joan's autobiography "And a voice to sing with" ".
So, it should be [beiz], like "maze" [meiz].
Who is right? Do you know?
I am chiefly interested in knowing what pronunciation she uses, or prefers, herself.
Have you got her autobiography? Would you be so kind as to see and copy that passage for me? I would really appreciate that. (Sorry, I don't know the page number.)
I hope that my questions on the pronunciation of the surnames of single personalities, etc., don’t annoy or bore you; I need this information for professional reasons.
Many thanks for your kindness.
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3 Answers
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I found her book; there doesn't seem to me anything about it rhyming with maze. What it does say, on p. 45 is this:
"I gave Time a long-winded explanation of the pronunciation of my name which came out wrong, was printed wrong in Time magazine, and has been pronounced wrong ever since. It's not "Buy-ezz"; it's more like "Bize," but never mind. The French pronounce it "Bayz,"
"I gave Time a long-winded explanation of the pronunciation of my name which came out wrong, was printed wrong in Time magazine, and has been pronounced wrong ever since. It's not "Buy-ezz"; it's more like "Bize," but never mind. The French pronounce it "Bayz,"
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The only right way to pronounce a person's name in English is to pronounce it the way the person pronounces it. President Reagan pronounced his name ['reig?n]. Correct. Many others who have the same surname pronounce it ['ri:g?n]. Correct again.
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