Michel Boucher wrote:
> "Janet" > wrote in
> :
>
>>> Koo-men, as it is from the Spanish, comino, through the French cumin.
>>> Nowhere in those previous conditions was the first syllable
>>> pronounced "kyu-".
>> I'm perfectly happy to adopt koo-men, but where is the emphasis, if
>> any? Most of those who've I've heard pronouce it that way put it on
>> the first syllable.
>
> And that would be correct.
>
>>> Do you say "sil-antro" or "chil-antro"?
>>>
>> Personally, the former. I've never heard the latter pronunciation.
>
> I've heard it.
>
>>> or "ala/alla mode" (as though
>>> it was Italian)?
>> Never seen that, either.
>
> Seen that here, and in restaurants.
>
>>> Do you say Eye-rak or Eer k (with emphasis on the last syllable)?
>>> Guess which one is correct (hint: it's not the way you would read
>>> it).
>> I've always leaned in the direction of ih-RAHK and ih-RAHN,
>> personally. I have no idea whether it is "correct. "
>
> Eerak (with emphasis on the last syllable) is correct, with an "a" like
> apple. Same for Eeran, which should be pronounced with a deep "a" closer
> to "o" as in plot.

Soooo, I have always wondered where GWB et al. get THEIR
pronunciation from. It almost seems like a deliberate show of
disrespect.

--
Jean B.