Word pronunciation
 

Hey there summer school allies.

Does anyone know where broadcast journalists go to find out how to correctly pronunciate a word/proper noun on air, particularly foreign words/names? Is there someone on staff who briefs them/answers their questions, or is there an updated online page somewhere that one can access?

Also, since language is ever evolving, is there an online source that is updated regularly (besides Urban Dict) that has it all?

dictionary.com

it has sound files as part of the definitions.

as far as place names and proper names...

changes with the times.

Kadaffi, Qadaffi, Ghadaffi.... all slightly different pronunciations...

All I could think of while reading this post was Ted Baxter. :lol:

Yes, my Mary Tyler Moore love is showing.

I honestly don't know the answer to your question though. Cyn's answer sounds good to me. I'm sure they have people around that aid in those things.

And old classic from a sports cast, Chi Chi Rodriquez was pronounced Chy Chy Rod-ri-gweze. Probably dozens more.

"Word pronunciation" is obviously a correct word usage. But IMO "pronunciate" is an improper word, though I do see it used and referenced here and there....still not right in my humble opinion.

i would pounce
on "pronounce..."

This is what Im after. Current pronunciations. Im looking for a source that can give me the correct way to pronounce a name that is the way the person themself would pronounce it, or how you would hear a local pronounce a place name, etc.

aluminum v aluminium ... silly brits! =)

I'd bet that there is no such source...at least not a single convenient source. To accomplish this I think you need to do research, so your staff might be a knowledgeable team getting the scoop on local pronunciations and wordings and usage...or you do the research yourself. The sources would be interviews with local people, printed matter, even internet souces.

I know that the BBC have a department for it.

Wikipedia? I know on some of the articles they have sound files for pronunciation.

That's how I learned and proved that Pho is pronounced "Fuh".

If I am not mistaken, the various broadcast entities (networks and stations) each decide how they will spell and pronounce each topical proper noun. That is then passed within the orginization off air. They try to be internally consistant and "politically correct" much as they do when they choose what terms to use to refer to certain orginazations (one station's terrorists are another's freedom fighters).

agreed with greytone (and not just because my granddad worked for greyhound for 50 years) the NYT style manual, for example.
The New York Times Store > THE NEW YORK TIMES MANUAL OF STYLE AND USAGE
or the AP manual:
APStylebook.com

personal story- at a jury trial, mispronounced "slough" as sloff instead of slew thereby appearing to be a big city atty instead of a local.

I always chuckle when Bruce Buffer, the Voice of the UFC, consistently says "Tem-pay Arizona" instead of "Tem-pee" whenever introducing local fighters.