3 ms·

The most fascinating part of this post to me is that even after reading the pronunciation key [1] I still don't feel confident that I'm saying the product name

by ericyd 3y ago

The most fascinating part of this post to me is that even after reading the pronunciation key [1] I still don't feel confident that I'm saying the product name correctly. It makes me reflect on how English-centric the web still is even in 2024, and it makes me wonder if non-native English speakers have similar hang ups with other popular apps/companies. [1] https://forgejo.org/2022-12-15-hello-forgejo/ https://forgejo.org/2022-12-15-hello-forgejo/

bluish29 3y ago
> makes me wonder if non-native English speakers have similar hang ups with other popular apps/companies As a non-native English speaker, I can confirm that you are right. This happens all the time. I used to pronounce "Cache" as "kay-sh" for a decade or so (sometimes I still do)
miki123211 3y ago
WhatsApp is notoriously bad at this, the pronunciation is not very obvious if you don't speak English. I've definitely heard non-English speakers pronouncing it with more of an a sound, like in farm.
- sirl1on 3y ago
  I think the mispronunciation may stem from the intended pun/wordplay: What's up? -> WhatsApp
Rexogamer 3y ago
side note, but why is the audio example an mp4 of all things? there's no video so surely mp3 or something similar would be better fitting
- ericyd 3y ago
  That's hilarious, I didn't even realize it was a clickable link! Well, file formats aside, props to the team for including an audio recording of how to pronounce it.
- paradox460 3y ago
  MP4 is just a container, and the audio is likely something that can go in said container, like AAC. As to the why, probably better compression
sterlind 3y ago
But the product name isn't English, it's Esperanto. Most native English speakers won't have a clue how to pronounce it correctly, since /j/ in English is always produced like the "dg" in "edge", while in many European languages (including Esperanto) /j/ sounds like "y". I only know how to pronounce it because I speak Esperanto. forĝejo is pronounced "forge" like the English word) + "ayo" (like the "ai" in "aim", plus the "yo" in "yo what's up".)
- type0 3y ago
  Having a name from a made up language isn't a good sign, I would even prefer a Chinese name even if was difficult to pronounce but easy to type. Look at Ubuntu for a foreign name that is easy to spell. Forgejo reads like a typo. Even sr.ht managed to get a better name

by ericyd 3y ago

bluish29 3y ago

> makes me wonder if non-native English speakers have similar hang ups with other popular apps/companies As a non-native English speaker, I can confirm that you are right. This happens all the time. I used to pronounce "Cache" as "kay-sh" for a decade or so (sometimes I still do)

miki123211 3y ago

WhatsApp is notoriously bad at this, the pronunciation is not very obvious if you don't speak English. I've definitely heard non-English speakers pronouncing it with more of an a sound, like in farm.

sirl1on 3y ago
I think the mispronunciation may stem from the intended pun/wordplay: What's up? -> WhatsApp

Rexogamer 3y ago

side note, but why is the audio example an mp4 of all things? there's no video so surely mp3 or something similar would be better fitting

ericyd 3y ago
That's hilarious, I didn't even realize it was a clickable link! Well, file formats aside, props to the team for including an audio recording of how to pronounce it.
paradox460 3y ago
MP4 is just a container, and the audio is likely something that can go in said container, like AAC. As to the why, probably better compression

sterlind 3y ago

But the product name isn't English, it's Esperanto. Most native English speakers won't have a clue how to pronounce it correctly, since /j/ in English is always produced like the "dg" in "edge", while in many European languages (including Esperanto) /j/ sounds like "y". I only know how to pronounce it because I speak Esperanto. forĝejo is pronounced "forge" like the English word) + "ayo" (like the "ai" in "aim", plus the "yo" in "yo what's up".)

type0 3y ago
Having a name from a made up language isn't a good sign, I would even prefer a Chinese name even if was difficult to pronounce but easy to type. Look at Ubuntu for a foreign name that is easy to spell. Forgejo reads like a typo. Even sr.ht managed to get a better name