Mispronounced names are a reality for many people. These World Cup presenters took a stand.
At the World Cup, you'd expect to hear a whole range of names from around the globe.
From the likes of Coutinho, to Pouraliganji, or Hasebe, you've likely heard commentators try to nail these pronunciations, because getting names right is an important sign of respect.
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That, for some reason, has become the source of derision for certain Australian viewers, who were angrily tweeting because SBS TV presenter Lucy Zelić was pronouncing the names of players and coaches correctly. That's right, correctly.
The online complaints over the weekend ranged from people thinking that Zelić was "overpronouncing" names, and that she was putting on an accent.
If anyone wants to criticise @LucyZelic for pronoucing players names AS THEY SHOULD BE PRONOUNCED can you step off twitter, kick yourself in the balls, and think about why you're a sexist wanker? #WorldCup #SBSTheWorldGame #WomenInFootball
— Sarah (¬_¬) (@SarahEHoll) June 22, 2018
Bunch of young flogs criticising Lucy Zelic and how she pronounces names. When Les Murray did it, he was a cult hero. She is paying respect to the world game. Shame on those putting her down, especially women. She has done a stellar job hosting. #Russia2018 #WorldCup
— Anthony Siokos (@AnthonySiokos) June 20, 2018
The undercurrent of racism continues with the dimwits having a crack at @LucyZelic ...ma please!! Lucy & @Craig_Foster and rest of @TheWorldGame crew doing a phenomenal #WorldCup job...crawl back to where you came from fools...
— Clint Bolton (@bootsa22) June 22, 2018
On Monday, Zelić and co-host Craig Foster hit back at those complaints, tearing up when explaining why they aimed to get foreign pronunciations right — even if they may not get it completely correct every time.
"You're not pronouncing it for anybody other than the nation that you're covering, and out of respect to them, you're pronouncing it for them," she said.
"So when I have had Colombians write to me and say 'I've been living in Australia for 37 years, and constantly having my name mispronounced has always been a difficulty for me. To have it pronounced correctly is really quite touching.'"
Zelić added she was pleased the debacle occurred, because now it means a new audience can be educated on the importance of getting names right.
WATCH: @LucyZelic and @Craig_Foster's emotional explanation of the importance of correct pronunciation and Les Murray's legacy. ♥⚽🇦🇺🏆 pic.twitter.com/mddnZkikOH
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) June 26, 2018
For many Australians (and people in English-speaking countries) with non-anglicised names, changing how one's name is pronounced for others is a common occurrence.
While trying to get pronunciation right seems insignificant, it means a lot to the people with those names.
Right on. I stopped pronouncing my name correctly as a kid in a very Anglo Aussie primary school in the 80s. It was just easier, fewer questions. Wish I didn't - maybe I would've been a little braver if I saw this. Loving the coverage @LucyZelic @TheWorldGame and @Craig_Foster https://t.co/rlMVeLjzrF
— David Bathur (@DaveBathur) June 26, 2018
Wonderful to listen to this.
Well done Craig Foster for raising the issue.
Huge thanks to Lucy Zelic for having the courage to be herself.
As an immigrant, too often there's a tendency to accept things just to fit in. No more. Let's educate the ignorant, not accept ignorance. https://t.co/FO9fZAeKvk— Dean (Дин) Rosario (@DeanRosario) June 25, 2018
As someone who has had my surname and the names/surnames of family and friends pronounced wrong for most of my life, I know how much it means to have your name said correctly. Thank @LucyZelic for the good work you've done. https://t.co/WjAf7nMz61
— Bill Posters (@Aqualec) June 25, 2018
Les taught this uneducated noob (me) as a young teen how to correctly pronounce so many international football names. I felt so proud impressing my mates by saying Jean Pierre Papin correctly 😉
Screw the haters.
Keep up the stellar job @LucyZelic & co 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/WtlOYKvACn— Liverpool Australia (@LFC_Australia) June 25, 2018
I’ve been in Australia for 14 years. Few people get my name right, and it’s not even that hard. You guys are great! Amazing job. Enlightening what Australia really is, this amazing multicultural place that we all immigrants learned to love and respect.
— Thiago Borges (@Thiagopiraca) June 25, 2018
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