We had sun, and now it’s gone again…

[erastes]

Big Garden Birdwatch 30-31st January.  I encourage all you Brits to participate this year – with the very cold weather we had, the numbers will be especially needed. It only takes an hour and there’s a handy dandy form to help you tick off the birds you see.  I’m short on chaffinches this year, haven’t see one – but I have long tailed tits, they’ve been back again today, so that sort of makes up for it. Almost.

Has the official pronunciation of Don Quixote changed in recent years – did I miss it?  I’ve heard two people say Don Quick-sote recently, including Jeremy Paxman on University Challenge – so I’m just wondering… Anyone know?

My post on Jessewave’s Blog yesterday was about the Titles of books, and what makes them appealing/unoriginal or otherwise. Do pop along and add your tuppence worth.

 

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Comments

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

They probably didn't know how to pronounce the name. (Which is "Don Key-HO-tay", so far as I know.)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

That's my question - it's always been as you say, but I've heard it several times the other way, on the BBC.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Twits.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

They probably "reversed engineered" it from the word "quixotic" (quick-sot-ic), which is of course an adjective based upon Don Q's name.

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

Has the official pronunciation of Don Quixote changed in recent years – did I miss it? I’ve heard two people say Don Quick-sote recently, including Jeremy Paxman on University Challenge – so I’m just wondering… Anyone know?

Stupidity is increasingly tolerated?

[beckyblack]

Do they want counts of starlings, pigeons, magpies and crows? ;) That's about all I see in my garden. Though if the weather's bad at the coast some seagulls come along and scare everything else off for a while.

Something small and brown passes by now and again, but I wouldn't know a chaffinch if it landed on my head. :D

[erastes.livejournal.com]

yes, all birds - just for an hour on either of the days.

Don Quixote/Don Quick-sote

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

People are ignorant, ignorant, ignorant.

But, while we're on the subject of correct pronunciation, "Don Quixote" is actually pronounced neither "Don Quick-sote" *shudder*, nor "Don Key-ho-tay" (though the latter is the accepted Anglicized pronunciation.) Cervantes, nor any of his little friends, would recognize neither.

Aside from pronouncing it myself, the best I can do in print is: Don (Rather sharp accent on the word -D cross between a TH and a D, pronounced through the teeth - pure, undipthonged O), kee-HO-teh (same O, but longer - T pronounced through the teeth - NO dipthong on the E)

Yes, I am just that. much. of a pronunciation snob.

Re: Don Quixote/Don Quick-sote

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling you'd know. Thank you dear. I was SHOCKED when Paxman said Quick-sote, literally shocked!!

Re: Don Quixote/Don Quick-sote

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

Shocked would be my second reaction; after I was done laughing my ass off!