Dear BBC,
I have just a small point, but one that needs to be addressed: Why, oh why, do all your news anchors and reporters, when saying the word Pentagon, as in the US military HQ, always use the pronunciation /pentagen/ with a "schwa" for the final 'e', rather than /pentagon/, as it's pronounced? That's like Americans pronouncing, say, 'scone' as /scone/ rather than /scon/. Please tell em that Pentagon rhymes with 'gone'.
July 23, 2003
Dear Mr ...
Thank you for your e-mail.
I was sorry to read of your disappointment the pronunciation of the word Pentagon on our programmes.
I can inform you that we maintain a Pronunciation Unit, whose members are highly qualified in modern languages and phonetics. Its task is to advise BBC broadcasters on all problems of pronunciation, whether they be English or foreign. Although it publishes a daily list of pronunciations that may prove difficult, it has to rely on broadcasters coming to the Unit with problems. Difficulties sometimes arise when broadcasters are confident and feel it unnecessary to check.
Please be assured that your comments on this issue have been fully registered and will form part of our daily feedback to BBC management. Our styles and policies are continually being assessed and changed based on feedback from the general public. Comments such as yours help us plan future programmes.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact us with the strength of your views.
Regards
Leanne Greer, BBC Information
I have just a small point, but one that needs to be addressed: Why, oh why, do all your news anchors and reporters, when saying the word Pentagon, as in the US military HQ, always use the pronunciation /pentagen/ with a "schwa" for the final 'e', rather than /pentagon/, as it's pronounced? That's like Americans pronouncing, say, 'scone' as /scone/ rather than /scon/. Please tell em that Pentagon rhymes with 'gone'.
July 23, 2003
Dear Mr ...
Thank you for your e-mail.
I was sorry to read of your disappointment the pronunciation of the word Pentagon on our programmes.
I can inform you that we maintain a Pronunciation Unit, whose members are highly qualified in modern languages and phonetics. Its task is to advise BBC broadcasters on all problems of pronunciation, whether they be English or foreign. Although it publishes a daily list of pronunciations that may prove difficult, it has to rely on broadcasters coming to the Unit with problems. Difficulties sometimes arise when broadcasters are confident and feel it unnecessary to check.
Please be assured that your comments on this issue have been fully registered and will form part of our daily feedback to BBC management. Our styles and policies are continually being assessed and changed based on feedback from the general public. Comments such as yours help us plan future programmes.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact us with the strength of your views.
Regards
Leanne Greer, BBC Information
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