Okay, dammit, when did Prince Rainier become Prince "Ren-YAY"

[Atman]

I'm forty-six, and for my entire life, up until his death, it's been pronounced Prince "Ren-EER." WTF? We're suddenly going all Euro-sophisticate in the Yoo-Ess media? Or is this an offshoot of 5 years of "NOO-KEW-LER?"

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

1. French pronounciation: "ier" is pronounced "ee-ay."

and "ain" is pronounced like "eh".

[GOPisEvil]

2. It's a vain attempt at the French pronunciation.

After years of Ameri-centrism, it's nice that they actually attempt to pronounce the man's name correctly. They do speach French in Monaco.

[Atman]

5. I guess my point is, who issued the memo?

I certainly know that it is a French pronunciation. I didn't get to 46 by being a total idiot! I'm just curious why NOW we're all of a sudden calling him Ren-YAY. Are we changing the pronunciation of the mountain? How about the new Buick SUV? I'm just finding it rather curious -- but certainly not earth-shattering -- that after literally my entire life hearing it pronounced one way, suddenly it's pronounced differently. Maybe we were wrong all along, sure. But why now? Who makes these decisions? Who issued the memo that every television reporter in America suddenly signed onto?

[karlrschneider]

3. Maybe they want him to sound more "French" for some bizarre reason?

I never heard the change until a few days ago either. :wtf: is right.

[Hardrada]

4. But isn't French our enemies

He wasn't some kind of communst??

[thebigidea]

6. at birth, if not before.

[buckup]

7. One of my favorite actors is

Sidney PoitEER

Alas, I kid.

[minerva50]

8. Probably they suddenly quit taking their cues from the BBC

They Anglicize everything. I used to listen to them when I lived in Germany and found it very annoying. I remember a story about "La Joe-La" California that drove me nuts.