Oh BBC!

[nineveh_uk]

Can't you give the commentators crib sheets for pronouncing the sportpeoples' names? Who on earth is Thomas Malliche (Adam Małysz, Poland, looks like a WWI flying ace)? And how is it possible for a professional to mangle Vincent Vittoz so badly (clue: French, should not rhyme with the country Dorothy Gale travels to)? I don't expect them to be perfect, but recognizable would be nice.

Most amusing moment of the men's downhill: the cameraman strategically positioning his shot with a white box in the way in an attempt to protent the modesty of a rather tight-suited Bode Miller in the start gate. Mind you, the "spiderman" element of the US men's suits is always entertaining. Someone needs to tell them that a Superman costume doesn't actually give one the power of flight.

Comments

[aunty_marion]

Oh, ghod, yes, the mispronunciations. I was wincing ALL THE TIME during the speed skating the other night. High-rake-oh, for Hirako, which should be Hee-rah-ko (with a short ee and o) was one, and at one point I'm sure the commentator said Hay-rake-oh. Or it might have been Hay-righ-ko. WTF? And I'm sure I heard someone say Weeber instead of Vayber for 'Weber'.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Yes, consistency, even if wrong, would be a start!

[quillori.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, this. And it isn't limited to BBC sports commentators. I quite appreciate the impossibility of pronouncing names from all over the world perfectly, but it would be nice if it at least sounding like a decent attempt. There's a difference between 'doesn't sound like a native' and 'appears to be talking about someone else altogether'.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

There's a difference between 'doesn't sound like a native' and 'appears to be talking about someone else altogether'.

Exactly! And indeed sounding like a native speaker isn't necessarily desirable. But a person familiar with the sport shouldn't be thinking "who" because the announcer is getting it so wrong.

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

It's certainly not limited to the BBC; it's one of the reasons I try to avoid watching NBC coverage.

In my experience, hockey commentators tend to be a little better than most at non-English names, simply because there's such an ethnic mix to the NHL. But I've come across some real clangers in my day; no one seems to be able to cope with Polish or Czech names, for some reason, much less Georgian or Armenian (or similar) names. But there's no excuse for being too far off the mark with French, German or Spanish.

an attempt to protent the modesty of a rather tight-suited Bode Miller in the start gate

I vote that this shot be banned. I mean, really; what is its purpose? I want to see skiers skiiing, not a close up shot of their bums and neighbouring bits as they prep for take-off. I can't help but be embarrassed for the athletes, though I'm sure they're used to it.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

Actually I find the Professional Encouragement-Shouter for Team America more embarrassing than Bode's bum.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Oh God! He makes me want to cringe. Didier Cuche's "pour le plaisir", on the other hand, I'm with.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I think I was spoilt by the commentator for Channel 4 skiing, who was excellent on names. I don't expect correct accent, but consistency and approximation would be a nice start.

I felt a bit sorry for this particular cameraman - normally the shot wouldn't really be a problem, but Miller was evidently not wearing the usual padding (he was a bit exposed even by more distant shots in the finish area) and was waiting in the start for a while. And the cameraman attempted to be discrete. But in general, I agree that there can be rather too much lingering bits of lycra-clad forms and exposures that aren't necessary.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

JEEZ! I must be getting old! (or blind).

I missed the whole Bode-bulge-bit (maybe distracted by aforesaid Encourager). This is the second time recently - I also missed Darius's undone-fly in Popstar to Operastar last week (DEFINITELY distracted by Rolando's hair and the general obnoxiousness of the panel).

Something that is disconcerting (since I AM a lycra-clad-form-freak), is seeing these amazing Super-hero-looking forms almost flying; and then when they get to the bottom of the mountain and remove goggles and helmet, they reveal face liek squished tomato.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

they reveal face liek squished tomato

Oh yes. No one can call Defago gorgeous, and the Frenchman leading one of the biathlon/XC races for a while had a face like the back end of a bus. And all the ski-jumpers look like the spotty teenagers they are.

It'll take a lot to beat the bobsleigh bum flash, though! (Poor girl - and you can't blame the cameras, they are positioned there to show the athletes running.)

[tree_and_leaf]

Mind you, given the number of journalists who struggled with Menzies Campbell, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised...

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Good point!