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maylane

Sep 21, 2006, 9:14 AM

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Pronunciation

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Hello, what can I read or buy to read to find out how to pronounce Mexico State and city names? Someone else asked this question and was told when you get there you will find out, but when I read about these areas my brain wants to know what is the true pronunciation. Example ox a can, I know not correct. Can someone help me? Thank you in advance....Joyce

jerezano

Sep 22, 2006, 9:57 PM

Post #2 of 9 (6951 views)

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Re: [maylane] Pronunciation

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HELLO MAYLANE,

Your example ox a can. oa xa' can You did mean to include the a didn't you? Try wah HAH kahn If the a is not there then separate the sylables as do the Spanish o xa can and you then run into the problem of the x. In olden times it was sh as in Xocomilco, now it usually is an h or cs as in México MEC see co which the Spanish spell as Méjico and pronounce as MEH he co. It is also sometimes an s. I would guess oxacan to be an Indian name and try oh SHA kahn. That should get you close enough that people would understand you and probably correct you with the local pronunciation. If still not understood I would try oh HAH kahn, then oh SAH kahn. I would then give up and write it. Perhaps a language expert will reply and then we will both learn something.

But you have hit the problem with many Mexican geographical, town, and region names. Many of them were native names transliterated into what the medeival Spanish THOUGHT they sounded like using medieval Spanish pronunciations. Those names have been retained and now with modern pronunciation rules the pronunciation doesn't jibe. Take Xijitla for example: Xi ji' tla He HE tla the modern pronunciation. Yet you will hear some natives there who still say
She HE tla.

As for your question about where to find the rules etc on regional and area pronunciations, I have not yet found such a compendium. I think we just have to roll with the punches.

Good luck. Adiós. jerezano.

sfmacaws

Sep 22, 2006, 11:00 PM

Post #3 of 9 (6949 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pronunciation

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In Mayan areas of Mexico (and Guatemala) the X is pronounced more like 'ish'. Thus places like Xcalak are ish-ka-lak and Xcaret is ish-ka-ret. My understanding is that there isn't an X sound in traditional spanish and that place names with an X are indigenous words and the pronunciation will differ from region to region.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

esperanza

Sep 23, 2006, 5:44 AM

Post #4 of 9 (6945 views)

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Re: [jerezano] Pronunciation

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My guess is that it was simply a typo and that maylane meant Oaxacan.

wa HAH kahn is correct.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly

Sep 23, 2006, 2:44 PM

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Re: [esperanza] Pronunciation

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How about OXXO? I hear local folks say it in various ways -- most commonly ox so and ox o

Rolly Pirate

esperanza

Sep 23, 2006, 3:36 PM

Post #6 of 9 (6927 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Pronunciation

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OXXO, the name of the mini-super chain, is not a Spanish word. It's a marketing word, made up to name a store. Here in the middle of Mexico, it's pronounced OHK-soh.

However, once when MexConnect's own sfmacaws was visiting me, she pointed out an OH-SHOH store along the road. She was giving OXXO a southern Mexico pronunciation, since that's the pronunciation of 'X' that she was used to in Quintana Roo. I giggled (perhaps unkindly) and suggested that OHK-soh was more correct. It's anybody's guess. Maybe I will write to the OXXO people and ask.

An aside: just last week, I emailed an old friend in Mexico City and rather than sign off with 'un abrazo' or 'un beso', I signed off with 'xoxo' (hugs and kisses). An American friend was visiting the Mexican recipient of the email. My DF friend, puzzled, took my email and asked, "What does she mean here, where she says 'SHO SHO'? We've laughed ourselves silly over that one.

SHO SHO to you, Rolly.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

esperanza

Sep 23, 2006, 3:50 PM

Post #7 of 9 (6924 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Pronunciation

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OK, I emailed OXXO and asked. I'll report back with their answer.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

sfmacaws

Sep 24, 2006, 10:33 PM

Post #8 of 9 (6893 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Pronunciation

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Traumatized! I tell you, I was traumatized!! Now I just call them Siete Once. <g>

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Georgia

Oct 16, 2006, 7:12 AM

Post #9 of 9 (6766 views)

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Re: [maylane] Pronunciation

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For place names of indigenous names, such as Ixtlahuacan, Ixtachihuatl, Cuauhtemoc, Parangaricutiro, Tzararacua and the like: first have a couple of shots of the local firewater, or as many as it takes to loosen your tongue, then try again.