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'.

[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'.

[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.

[tree_and_leaf]

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