If we’re saying it wrong, can someone let us know?

In broadcasting, it is important to pronounce words properly. Especially names. You know that new weatherman is new to the area when he tells you about VI-rokwa or WEE-nonuh. Broadcasters often practice difficult to say words off-air so they sound knowledgeable and credible. A list of 2022 difficult to pronounce words, according to the companies that provide closed captioning on television, includes Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, and tennis star Novak Djokovic. Amazingly the list did not include the name of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. But as much as we try to pronounce names correctly, sometimes it is difficult. For years I and most others have pronounced the name of the man considered one of the greatest soccer players ever as Pele. I learned upon his death it is actually pronounced Puh-lay. Pele was a soccer star decades ago, and his name was often in the news. Why didn’t anyone tell us how to pronounce it correctly? Similarly, pop music star Adele finally admits the correct pronunciation is A-dale. Countless DJ’s and grammy hosts have been saying it wrong with no one telling them. I learned this year that Iowa football player Nico Ragaini was finally bothered enough to tell those announcing the games it is actually Rag-ah-een-ee. It seems certain there must be others whose names make the news that we continue to mispronounce. Perhaps they could let us know, without waiting years or decades to correct us, and save us some embarrassment.