When Did The Pronunciation Of Everything Change

For a few years now many talking heads on tv, on both sides of the isle, have decided that whenever they say a Spanish proper name, they must adopt a Spanish accent only for the length of that name, before switching back to an American accent. (Rachel Campos Duffy on Fox is one of the worst offenders, but it’s almost universal now.) I don’t know why, but this completely drives me out of my mind. It’s as if the speaker is trying to show that he or she is really sophisticated or something. But it just makes them look stupid, because…

Why only Spanish? Why not adopt a British accent when you say the name of the prime minister for example? And of course, just think what would happen if a white talking head adopted a Chinese accent when talking about people and places in China! That’s racist! Cultural appropriation!

W Bob (View Comment):

For a few years now many talking heads on tv, on both sides of the isle, have decided that whenever they say a Spanish proper name, they must adopt a Spanish accent only for the length of that name, before switching back to an American accent. (Rachel Campos Duffy on Fox is one of the worst offenders, but it’s almost universal now.) I don’t know why, but this completely drives me out of my mind. It’s as if the speaker is trying to show that he or she is really sophisticated or something. But it just makes them look stupid, because…

Why only Spanish? Why not adopt a British accent when you say the name of the prime minister for example? And of course, just think what would happen if a white talking head adopted a Chinese accent when talking about people and places in China! That’s racist! Cultural appropriation!

Don't forget Keev and Mumbai.

Casey (View Post):

Barthelona

On the one hand, it's how Castilian Spanish pronounces it, but the irony is Barcelona is Catalonian and Castilian Spanish represents the assault their culture has undergone as part of Spain. What I mean is the pronunciation is a bit of an insult to the native residents, at least the older ones.

W Bob (View Comment):

For a few years now many talking heads on tv, on both sides of the isle, have decided that whenever they say a Spanish proper name, they must adopt a Spanish accent only for the length of that name, before switching back to an American accent. (Rachel Campos Duffy on Fox is one of the worst offenders, but it’s almost universal now.) I don’t know why, but this completely drives me out of my mind. It’s as if the speaker is trying to show that he or she is really sophisticated or something. But it just makes them look stupid, because…

Why only Spanish? Why not adopt a British accent when you say the name of the prime minister for example? And of course, just think what would happen if a white talking head adopted a Chinese accent when talking about people and places in China! That’s racist! Cultural appropriation!

Django (View Comment):

Don’t forget Keev and Mumbai.

Indeed, those are similar affectations also intended to show the sophistication of the speaker.

The hominy Khamenei thing… at first I thought it was a stupid way to make sure the audience didn’t think one was talking about Ruollah Khomeini. Just pronounce it differently! But I think the two names are pronounced differently in the Iranian language, but I’m not sure hominy is right.