Back in 1992, I was reading a magazine that featured previews and snapshots of the teams lining up for the World Cup that year. The Sri Lankan page contained the following entry: "Biggest headache: Overseas commentators trying to pronounce Sri Lankan names." I wholeheartedly agreed. For this nine year old, it was a futile yet all-consuming exercise, trying to come to terms with names like Wijegunawardane, Samarasekera, and Anurasiri. And yet, I managed better than most of the men behind the microphone.
Seventeen years on, you can thus imagine, it feels more than a tad ironic when Ian Bishop gets himself into a tangle over Angelo Mathews' surname. Bish has been around as a commentator for a while now, and generally acquitted himself well when it comes to tackling exotic oriental names.
Might this be the commentator's equivalent of successfully keeping out the jaffas on seaming wicket, and then falling to a donkey drop?
Top Cricket From The Second Tier
13 years ago
3 comments:
To me its incredibly insulting that comms keep struggling against "exotic" names. That is their job; how hard is it to read the players' list before the start of play, and get someone's help for the right pronounciation?
And some of the non-subcontinental names are difficult for desis too. (Like some of the Saffers.) And I would be equally harsh on an Indian comm if he messed up a Saffer name!
:-)
I totally agree, comms should do their research beforehand (but Angelo Mathews? How hard is that?). Although things have improved a lot in recent times, it amazes me how commentators are allowed to get away with mispronunciations.
As for Indian commentators, what is really inexcusable is when they get a n Indian name wrong (eg. Venkatesh Prasad once calling Viru "Shaywaugh"!)
And, when will (at least the Indian commentators, eg Sanjay Manjrekar)learn that "Jayawardene" is pronounced "Jayawardena"? How difficult is that - years after sri Lanka made their mark?
Reminds me of Pearson Surita, years and years ago - he of Eurasian descent (Hungarian mother, I believe!!)gloriously said on radio after hearing English commentators calling the off spinner just "Venkat": "but, for those of us with the gift of the gab, Venkataraghavan slips glibly of the tongue"!!!
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