If only I were talking about that fun game you play with groups of people where you guess names written on pieces of paper out of a bowl, but no, I'm actually referring to the story of my life. You see the name Laura has at least two phonetic pronunciations, LOOR-ruh (rhymes with Dora) and LAR-uh (rhymes with STAR-uh). I happen to be a LAR-uh which, although pretty common in Utah, is like a different language here in Seattle. So when I meet new people (like I have a lot lately having started two new jobs) there's always this typical conversation:me: Hi so-and-so nice to meet you, I'm LAR-uh.
new acquaintance: LAR-uh? Is it LAR-uh or is it LOOR-ruh?
(me in my head: ummm.... didn't I just said LAR-uh?)
me out loud: It's LAR-uh, but I don't care if you say LOOR-ruh, whatever is fine.
(new acquaintance tries to sound it out in a very exaggerated version of my name, gets it right perhaps once or twice but usually reverts to the other way)
I'm used to my name being an issue anytime someone wants to address me. It was particularly bad at my last job where we had both a LAR-uh and a LOOR-ruh - we could hear the difference, why couldn't they? The best though is when people tell me that I'm pronouncing my own name wrong. Riiiiggght, my mistake. I may be coming across slightly bitter here so I apologize, that's not my intention. I realize it's not the end of the world and I don't care too much if someone calls me LOOR-ruh. What I really hate is having this kind of awkward exchange every time I meet someone new. Should I just introduce myself as LOOR-ruh from now on and skip the hassle? It's not that I don't like that pronunciation, I do. It's just that (and I think all LOOR-ruhs and LAR-uhs alike will agree with me here) it's not the same name.
Bottom line: I love my name, but it's trouble. Does anybody else have a similar situation or perhaps advice on how I should handle this? Which version of the name are you more familiar with? Chime in.
*Please Note: If you ever have or still do call me LOOR-uh, I am in no way upset with you. In fact, I apologize for making you feel bad because you probably do now. I understand that they are spelled the same and that it's more common to say it that way. We can still be friends. In fact, Bret called me that for the first month or so of dating; I just didn't have the heart to tell him he was wrong and it was my friend Rachel who finally set him straight. Things still worked out pretty well for us.
*Trouble is the weirdest word. Look at it and say it a few times. Weird.
11 comments:
Anne. Not Ann, but Anneeeeeee. I feel, ya, sister. However, I kind of hate the name Ann, so it drives me nutty if people call me that. I have no problem correcting people the first 4 or 5 times, but after that, it's just rude. Coincidentally, your dear hubby is the ONLY PERSON on the face of this planet who may call me "Ann", and who it doesn't bother me. Isn't that funny?
I like LAR-uh. I think it's beautiful, and it fits you very well. :)
I have the same problem with our last name! first of all I hate when people dont capitalize the "M" its DeMill not Demill. Secondly I hate when people pronounce it "dem ill" instead of "dee mill"
My sister is a LAR-ul (Laurel) too and though she was born in UT (hence the LAR) we grew up in CT which had the same reaction. She was called LOOR-ul her whole life, even when we moved to CA. The only time it worked out great was in college when she roomed with a LOOR-ul. Friends would call their apartment and ask for a Laurel and they would say, "LAR-ul or LOOR-ul?".
And as for me, you can imagine what horrible mispronunciations I live with everyday! I once let the man in our work cafeteria call me Marium for a whole year because I felt too bad to correct him.
I feel your pain!
Hey, I was looking at Rach's blog and saw your link. From one Lar-uh to another, you are hilarious! I have the same problem, but I actually feel a little nostalgic for the few who call me Loor-ruh. If I'm used to it, from them, I miss it if they change it. The one that kills me is when I tell people my name and they call me Laurie or Lori. I can't figure out where the E sound is coming from. I'm positive I never say it. Oh, try this one though, my dad was raised in North Carolina and some of the relatives there call me Lair-uh (like care-a). I don't know where they get that. In any case, I'm glad Rachel set Brett straight. She's so great! Always looks out for the people she loves. Oh, and it was fun to see Brett when he was here. Hope to see you soon. ~Laura Hamilton (the one that was over at Rach's the night before you left for Seattle)
Hey, this is Nanette. I found your blog off the ChiO list.
My favorite mess up of all time for my name is Manette. Man? Seriously? Now that my married name is Hosenfeld, I get to battle with people over my first and last name!
I was thinking as I was reading this, "hey, didn't Bret call you that forever?" Then, you called him out on it.
I personally think this should be like Pavlov's dogs and you just need to train people. Anytime they say it in the wrong way, punch them in the gut. Eventually, they will not call you the wrong name anymore and it will be settled.
Oh yeah, and people spell my name "Candance" all the time. I know my dance moves are unlike any other but really?
Oh the name game is such a pain. If I say sophie people call me chelsea and if i say sophia people call me cynthia?? At my last job the nicest old man callled my sylvia and i didn't have the heart to correct him for the whole year I worked there.
I say just correct people. I wouldn't be offended just glad that i would now say it right.
Well, we should just swtich names since I'm still in UT where LAR-uh is the norm and you're in Seattle where LOOR-ruh is standard. I have found that when i correct people they give me a look like "hey, why so nitpicky? it's pretty much the same name". Actually, it's not.
I think it's funny how people say it right, then for some odd reason switch one day to the other pronunciation.
This is how it goes for me:
me: Hi so-and-so nice to meet you, I'm LOOR-ruh.
new acquaintance: Hi, LAR-uh? Nice to meet you, too.
(me in my head: ummm.... didn't I just say LOOR-ruh?)
chatting,chatting...
new acquaintance: wait, is it LAR-uh or LOOR-ruh?
me: it's LOOR-ruh.
chatting, chatting...
new acquaintance: well, nice to meet you LAR-uh.
me: nice to meet you too (...and thanks for remembering my name).
I've decided this is a battle I'd rather not use anymore energy fighting.
This is the most hilarious post ever because every time I meet a Laura, I ask them how they pronounce it.
Clearly there is definitely a major difference between the two.
In my opinion, if they want it to rhyme with Dora, they should spell it that way...Lora. But whatev.
On a side note, I have the same problem. With my last name being spelled with two e's, I often get Shaylee Dillstra rather than Deelstra (Del-stra). What do ya do?
Amen. Especially the part where people try to correct us on our own names.
"But L-a-u-r-a is pronounced 'Lora'"
"Actually, friend, I think you'll find that 'au', is pronounced 'aw,' as in automobile and auspicious. Thanks though."
Haha, I'll stick to calling you Lu! <3
-- LAR-uh MOY-er
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