4 ms·

How do you pronounce it? I'm from New Zealand, and "gray-am" seems to be the common pronunciation here.

by chad_oliver 13y ago

lotharbot 13y ago
It's often pronounced "gram" (one short syllable), particularly in American media.
- csense 13y ago
  I've lived my entire life in the US, and I distinctly remember at the age of about 7 or 8, reading the name as "Gruh Ham," only to be told that it's pronounced "Gram." This recording is the first time I've heard someone else pronounce it as two syllables, but it may also be the first time I've ever heard the name pronounced by a non-US speaker.
- asveikau 13y ago
  I am American and have always pronounced it and heard it pronounced with two syllables. Maybe not as deliberately as the recording. I wonder if he is talking slowly as he is because it's so new to him, or maybe we're not hearing it at the right rate, or some combination thereof. Also, where's the thick Scottish accent?
  - marquis 13y ago
    >where's the thick Scottish accent His father would have elocuted it out of him.
  - smcl 13y ago
    This is actually quite a Scottish accent, however it does not really fit with the stereotype (Groundskeeper Willy et al). To me (a Scot) it sounds very similar to George Galloway's accent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_AOTexf6uc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_AOTexf6uc There are numerous distinct accents across Scotland despite it being a pretty tiny country.
    - asveikau 13y ago
      I guess my expectation was that the older the recording, the goofier the accents would sound, due to changes over time. For example, the recordings of Edison have him sounding like no American alive today.
      - smcl 13y ago
        Haha, your average Scot might get upset by any implication that our accent is in any way "goofy" but I completely understand what you mean
  - JesseObrien 13y ago
    He's actually enunciating that way because his wife was deaf. She could read lips, so he would enunciate very carefully.
- raverbashing 13y ago
  Well Americans have a problem pronouncing some things. I always though it would be two syllables. I can't find a reason why it would be otherwise (unless it was French, but even then...)
  - moioci 13y ago
    "Americans have a problem pronouncing some things." Tell me, how do the English pronounce "Worcestershire"?

How do you pronounce it? I'm from New Zealand, and "gray-am" seems to be the common pronunciation here.

lotharbot 13y ago

It's often pronounced "gram" (one short syllable), particularly in American media.

csense 13y ago
I've lived my entire life in the US, and I distinctly remember at the age of about 7 or 8, reading the name as "Gruh Ham," only to be told that it's pronounced "Gram." This recording is the first time I've heard someone else pronounce it as two syllables, but it may also be the first time I've ever heard the name pronounced by a non-US speaker.
asveikau 13y ago
I am American and have always pronounced it and heard it pronounced with two syllables. Maybe not as deliberately as the recording. I wonder if he is talking slowly as he is because it's so new to him, or maybe we're not hearing it at the right rate, or some combination thereof. Also, where's the thick Scottish accent?
- marquis 13y ago
  >where's the thick Scottish accent His father would have elocuted it out of him.
- smcl 13y ago
  This is actually quite a Scottish accent, however it does not really fit with the stereotype (Groundskeeper Willy et al). To me (a Scot) it sounds very similar to George Galloway's accent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_AOTexf6uc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_AOTexf6uc There are numerous distinct accents across Scotland despite it being a pretty tiny country.
  - asveikau 13y ago
    I guess my expectation was that the older the recording, the goofier the accents would sound, due to changes over time. For example, the recordings of Edison have him sounding like no American alive today.
    - smcl 13y ago
      Haha, your average Scot might get upset by any implication that our accent is in any way "goofy" but I completely understand what you mean
- JesseObrien 13y ago
  He's actually enunciating that way because his wife was deaf. She could read lips, so he would enunciate very carefully.
raverbashing 13y ago
Well Americans have a problem pronouncing some things. I always though it would be two syllables. I can't find a reason why it would be otherwise (unless it was French, but even then...)
- moioci 13y ago
  "Americans have a problem pronouncing some things." Tell me, how do the English pronounce "Worcestershire"?