Dismissing the English word for the removal of gas and focusing on the name of the French painter, what is the correct pronunciation of his name? Now, American and British pronunciation of French loanwords is very different. We Brits would stress the first syllable and not pronounce the s: saying something like day-gah. I would imagine that those of you who are American would stress the final syllable and not pronounce the s: saying something like duh-gah. However, there is something off the top of my head that suggests that the s is pronounced. Any thoughts?
-- Garzo.
Degas
We learned about him as DAY-ga, painter of dancers and race horses (long-legged fillies all), as well as homely topics.
This one always makes me smile.
gailr
This one always makes me smile.
gailr
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- Grand Panjandrum
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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My BHD (Big Honkin' Dictionary--The Random House Dictionary of the English Language) gives the pronunciation as də gä', where the "d" should be followed by a schwa.
I've been fiddling with fonts trying, to no avail, to find one that will display a schwa.
I've been fiddling with fonts trying, to no avail, to find one that will display a schwa.
Regards//Larry
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
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"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
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- Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Degas
In New Orléans, the capital of mispronunciation, Café Degas is nevertheless articulated as day-GAH.Dismissing the English word for the removal of gas and focusing on the name of the French painter, what is the correct pronunciation of his name? Now, American and British pronunciation of French loanwords is very different. We Brits would stress the first syllable and not pronounce the s: saying something like day-gah. I would imagine that those of you who are American would stress the final syllable and not pronounce the s: saying something like duh-gah. However, there is something off the top of my head that suggests that the s is pronounced. Any thoughts?
-- Garzo.
Pretty close, though I think Stargzer's analysis is closest to French. It's got a certain.. je ne sais schwa....
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- Grand Panjandrum
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degas
Gailr, that green painting smacks of absinthe more than anything lautrec slapped on canvas. hmmm I prefer "to lose" to "too loose" but that's another plate of snails.
I always thought French was pretty much accent-free so English speakers tend to say dayGAH to compensate, but never heard it rhyme with Vegas.
Now I have a vision of Degas painting Vegas showgirls.
I always thought French was pretty much accent-free so English speakers tend to say dayGAH to compensate, but never heard it rhyme with Vegas.
Now I have a vision of Degas painting Vegas showgirls.
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