How, or how not, to pronounce "Norge" merged threadfest

[dibble]

Dunno I've got a V Cinquanta personally

[Triple Jim]

Don't know about that , the Latin word Audi means sound or hearing . The company was founded in Ingolstadt , and Hitler helped promote their racing efforts , that is all I know for sure .

Dusty

The Wikipedia article has a different story.  I'm not saying that I know anything about the real history though.

If you really want to get a Porsche owner fired up, call it a Porch.  ~;

Reminds me of the (longer than this version) story about the guy hired to paint the porch of a house.  When he finished, he told the owner, and pointed out that it wasn't a porch, it was a Ferrari.

[barenekd]

I heard Valentino Rossi Call Jorge Lorenzo "Yorguh". Certainly didn't sound like the Mexicans around here's "HorHay"
Personally I've always called the Norge "Norj" as I never had any other reference to them, but I do remember Norge refrigerators.
Bare

[segesta]

If you really want to get a Porsche owner fired up, call it a Porch.  ~;

In the spirit of this thread, I'll pronounce it the Italian way... "Porskeh." Ugh. ;D

[Crusty]

In the spirit of this thread, I'll pronounce it the Italian way... "Porskeh." Ugh. ;D

 ;-T  I like it!!!  :+1

[Joe G]

Google translate says it's pronounced norje in American. In Italian it's pronounced with a rolled r followed by a jay. NorrrrrrJay. Sounds sort nice when the Google translate lady says it.

   Joe G

[donn]

We are talking about 2 different entities

Actually several entities, if you count the mythical "Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt."  There was an "Auto Union AG", but it was formed from a merger of Audi and several other firms, so we don't have to wonder whether that's where Audi got its name - Audi had already been around for ca. 20 years.

[donn]

Google translate says it's pronounced norje in American. In Italian it's pronounced with a rolled r followed by a jay. NorrrrrrJay. Sounds sort nice when the Google translate lady says it.

Hm, translate says English pronunciation of Moto Guzzi is "moto goozy."

If it isn't in the English language dictionary, it isn't really fair to expect Google to know how to pronounce it correctly, and same for Italian.  Norge isn't an English word, nor an Italian word, seems to be Norwegian.

[Joe G]

On Google Translate, the Italian and Norwegian pronunciation for Norge is the same. Different voices, virtually the same pronunciation.  Is it fair?  Do I care? No.  ;)

                    Joe G

[donn]

On Google Translate, the Italian and Norwegian pronunciation for Norge is the same. Different voices, virtually the same pronunciation. 

That's weird, they aren't the same when I check.  Nor-gah (Norwegian) vs. Nor-jeh (Italian.)

[rocker59]

Reminds me of the time I was corrected on the pronunciation of Centauro.

I pulled a penny from my pocket and asked him if the little copper Lincoln was called a Chent ?  LOL!

Yes, I know the proper Italian for Centauro is chen-tar-oh.

But, most Americans call it sin-tar-oh.

He looked at the penny and didn't say anything.  LOL!

[Lannis]

Reminds me of the time I was corrected on the pronunciation of Centauro.

I pulled a penny from my pocket and asked him if the little copper Lincoln was called a Chent ?  LOL!

Yes, I know the proper Italian for Centauro is chen-tar-oh.

But, most Americans call it sin-tar-oh.

He looked at the penny and didn't say anything.  LOL!

I think you're right ... when talking about "things", you need to speak to be understood, not to be pendantically and linguistically "correct".   

I've already mentioned that "centimeter" is a French word, invented in France, that English borrowed.   But we don't say "SONT-i-metair"; that would sound snobby and silly.  We say "SENT-i-meter" because we've accepted it into English.   

When we were the only folks we knew who owned a Dauphine, we agreed with people that we had a "re-NALT", no a "ray-KNOW".   Otherwise, they wouldn't have know what we were talking about.   And what good is that?   Just to show how "smart" and cosmopolitan you are?  Good luck with that.

Names are different.   I always take pains to make sure that I know how to spell AND pronounce a person's name correctly, out of respect for them.  I've experienced too many times someone either consciously or unconsciously "put me down" or try to emphasize that I'm "different" from a local Drinkard or Jones or Jamerson by saying "What's that name?  Sely ... Asels ... Seltz... ?"   They revel in supposedly not being able to pronounce a one-syllable name, even after they've heard it and seen it spelled.   It's a sign of someone being a low-bred boor.

So when I worked with Nriprendara Nath Chakravorty or Chris Papanicolopoulos or Nakita Tsiolvikowsky, I practiced saying it right so I wouldn't be REALLY saying "You're different from me and I don't really accept you ..." by stumbling over their name day after day ....

Lannis

[sib]

Slightly off topic, but I saw a bumper sticker on a car yesterday "I'm so gay I can't even drive straight".

In my home state of California, we have a mixed record on pronouncing the many Spanish-derived place names.  We do pretty well with La Jolla (La HOY-a) and La Cañada (La Caan-YA-da, even though most road signs omit the tilde), but we pronounce Vallejo "Vall-E-ho", possibly because it was named after Mr. Vallejo, who may have pronounced it that way.  Only natives can keep track.

Logic would dictate that we pronounce Norge the way the manufacturer intended, whichever way that is.  But then again, in many California neighborhoods, Chevrolet is pronounced "CHE-vee".

[Joe G]

That's weird, they aren't the same when I check.  Nor-gah (Norwegian) vs. Nor-jeh (Italian.)

Yep, you're right. They're real close though. 

So how did an Italian bike get a Norwegian name? 

    Joe. G

[rocker59]

So how did an Italian bike get a Norwegian name?  

    Joe. G

Guzzi was excited about its first "GT" (touring) machine back in the 1920s.   (note the suspension, front AND rear.  Rare for 1928)

So, Carlo Guzzi's brother (Giuseppe) rode the below bike from Italy to the North Cape of Norway, and back (4,000 miles) to celebrate the model:

[Joe G]

Now thats my kind of guy, that Giuseppe.  One hell of an adventure in 1928!

   Joe G

[kidneb]

The Italians have their own place called Norge,- would be interesting to hear how the locals there pronounce it .



http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/2000mtn/bondone.html

[jetmechmarty]

Click the little speaker to here it pronounced in Norwegian.

http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#it/it/Norge

In Italian.

http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#it/it/Norge

[Stormtruck2]

Yes, I know the proper Italian for Centauro is chen-tar-oh.

But, most Americans call it sin-tar-oh.

I contend that the proper pronounciation for any Centauro is "MINE. ::) :D ;)

[Pfaff!]

Hey , just be glad they didn't name it Kongeriket Norge , then we would have two words we can't pronounce  :D
Someone else can 'splain the trip from Italy to Norge  ;D

Dusty

We ???

Be happy they didn't name the bike in Nynorsk ("new Norwegian") ;D

[Stormtruck2]

There is a pattern forming here that may explain why so few folks know what a Moto Guzzi is , you guys are buying and hoarding all of them before other folks even get a chance to see one  :D

Dusty

Come to my hovel and you will get to see not one Centauro, BUT TWO, in their natural habitat, the road.  :bike :D ;)

[oldbike54]

Come to my ESTATE IN THE COUNTRY and you will get to see not one Centauro, BUT TWO, in their natural habitat, the road.  :bike :D ;)

Fixed it for ya  :)

Dusty

[Joe G]

Wait a minute!  How do we know Guiseppe really went to Norge Norway? How do we know he didn't go to Norge Italy?  Why would an Italian go to Norway, anyway?  ???

     Joe G

[oldbike54]

Wait a minute!  How do we know Guiseppe really went to Norge Norway? How do we know he didn't go to Norge Italy?  Why would an Italian go to Norway, anyway?  ???

     Joe G

Simple , to make sure it was still there  :BEER:

Dusty

[Stormtruck2]

Fixed it for ya  :)

Dusty

The only estate I have will be my meager pocessions when I bit the big green one and die.  ::)  I am leaving my ex-wife something though, MY DEBTS AND BILLS!! ;D

[roofus]

Lots of people say Nor-Gay. That is close, but the correct pronunciation is Nor-guh or Nor-gah. I would write it phonetically if I knew how!

[Bill Hagan]

Lots of people say Nor-Gay. That is close, but the correct pronunciation is Nor-guh or Nor-gah. I would write it phonetically if I knew how!

Out of curiosity, says who?   ;D

Bill

[kidneb]

OK,- to end this miserable thread ( ;D), if it`s the Norwegian pronunciation of Norge we`re after,- go to 0:33 in this video clip, but please don`t go further, as some of you may find it offensive. But mind you, - those of you who disobey - it`s humor. So bear with me posting it,- it`s for the sake of a good cause ! I could`t find it as clearly spoken elsewhere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkLPYtvWpAs
 Most Norwegians, like the man here, have the "rolling" R, like the Scottish and the Italians, but in the south and the west of Norway there are dialects where the R is pronounced more like the French do.
And yes,- there are many Italian tourists and travelers in Norway, they seem to like the country. Also there are old connections from the time when trade ships from southern Europe sailed the Norwegian coast.

[Bill Hagan]

It's early winter and 2 1/2 years since this cud's been chewed.

So, I thought it about time to revive this thread , so here is how I decided to settle the matter once and for all.

OK, for me, at least:   





No need to thank me; I live to serve. 

Regards from the top of Virginia,

Bill

[oldbike54]

 So ... Nor J then ?

 Dusty