/hi-may-ree-vez/
Apparently, Jamie Rives (which rhymes with "fives" and "hives" and "jives") is the most difficult name in the world to pronounce. I can probably count on one hand the number of times someone who reads it for the first time says it correctly. My mother-in-law warned me on my wedding day that from this point on, no one would ever be able to pronounce my last name, and boy was she right!
I usually get "Reeves" or "Rivez." Today I got my favorite--the pronunciation "Hi-May Ree-Vez." I am a girl that is as Euro-looking as they come, but with the name of a hispanic male I guess.
There have been several times, upon reading my name, that customer service people assume I need a Spanish speaking person to talk to. So they call me and begin speaking to me in Spanish, only to find out that "Jay-mee Rye-vz" has a very limited Spanish vocabulary.
Ok--I think that's the end of my rant...adios!
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6 comments:
that is so funny! i am usually "SUSAN KIRSKEY". don't you just want to tell people that they are dumb sometimes, and that they need to get hooked on phonics? but that would be mean....
oh susanna! why can't people get your name right?
I really don't get why people are saying your last name wrong?! I have NEVER seen the name Rives in a Spanish speaking country...Sergio doesn't think your name is that Latino tompoco--says my Mexicano!!!:)
We're cornfused too!
Lis--I know, right??? Tell your Mexicano thanks for the confirmation :) He's very handy to have around!
Pa-tee HIN-zee enjoyed and completely identified with this post. I did go to school with some guys whose last name was Rives and they did pronounce it REE-vez, though they didn't look particularly Hispanic. My maiden name was Pate and the telemarketers would insist on "May I speak with Miss Pah-tay please?" Goose liver, that's right. I think the problems come when the name actually follows the phonetic rules. We just aren't used to that.
You crack me up!
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