Latest irritating neologism on BBC News 24

True-- but it is human nature to get annoyed by things like that! In relation to getting the message across, using American pronunciation instead of British could lead to confusion-- take the word 'route' for instance.

I appreciate complaints like this may seem petty, but it annoys a lot of people (including me!! ). Many viewers maybe inclined to think: "If they can't get basic pronunciation right, what else can't they be bothered with?".

I just don't understand why UK newsreaders deliberately embrace these Americanisms... if they want to speak like that, move to the USA

BTW, thanks for the explanation of aluminium vs aluminum, I hadn't realised that Why the difference I wonder?

As for economic ('ee-conomic' vs ecko-nomic), I think it is one of those words in UK English that can have dual-pronunciation. Such as 'contro-versy' vs 'controv-ersy'; or 'eether vs 'iether'.

Glad someone started this thread, I can't stand American news gestures for example, they call a cameraman and photographer (!?) and they called video "pictures".

Why do they do things like that.

Pictures refers to the good old showreels perhaps?

I love threads like this.

People often complain about the small things, and yes whilst it may be human nature...Phil is right...as long as the message is getting across to the punter then why worry?

People who are hung up on the presentation of things tend not to care about the content of what they're (over) analysing. Yes, we're all here to discuss TV and news etc but should we really get concerned because someone says "pictures" instead of "video".

I'd understand if people were saying "And here at the hub of our operations are the latest transmissions eminating from our abode in the great british capital" - but it's hardly a massive issue.

A presenter on TV/radio/press is no more willing to disrespect the English language than you or I, but it happens.

Off topic but interesting: reasons for the aluminium/aluminum spelling differences:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium#Spelling

Minish Tank was on about Ah-dee-das on Friday

Jamie in London stuck to Add-i-das

So? Both are commonly accepted pronunciations.

Who are you? The chairman of the Pedantic Society?

Pronounced Ped-Arnt-Ick.

Very possible that Ah-dee-das is the correct pronunciation in this case.

Adidas is a German company named after Adi (Adolf) Dassler. Since Adolf is pronounced Ah-dolf, one would assume that Adi is pronounced Ah-dee and so Ah-dee-das would be correct.

Perhaps someone with better German knowledge could confirm?

It's probably one of these ones where the correct pronunciation doesn't sound right to British ears so it's been Anglicised. Braun, Peugeot and Hyundai are other examples.

I always pronounce it almost like "added ass" - which is actually a pretty accurate pronunciation if saying it German-style. But still, if brands are to be pronounced how they are in the country they're from, then Volkswagen should be pronounced Folksvagen.

> Volkswagen should be pronounced Folksvagen.

Yup, and I do pronounce it that way

Toshiba's another one, pronounced Tow-sh'ba in Japanese.

My biggest (and admittedly irrational) pet hate when it comes to language is when singular organisations are referred to in the plural.

Too often we hear the likes of, "The government are looking into the proposals.."

Grr.