Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 08-22-2018, 11:27 AM
Aaron Poochigian Aaron Poochigian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,634
Default Pronunciation of "Jaguar"

Alright, no more screwing around. How do you pronounce "jaguar"?

Is is true that Americans say "JAG-wahr"

and Brits says "JAG-you-are"?

T.S. Eliot, an Anglophiliac from Missouri, says, in "Whispers of Immortality"

the couched Brazilian jaguar

Which pronunciation does he intend? I think he affects the British one. Yes?
__________________
Aaron Poochigian
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 08-22-2018, 12:24 PM
Ann Drysdale's Avatar
Ann Drysdale Ann Drysdale is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Old South Wales (UK)
Posts: 6,667
Default

Well, I say jag-you-are and Eliot spent a lot of time in my territory.

More to the point, in that poem, only jag-you-are will scan.

Balance it, as he does, against the marmoset.

Editing in to explain that my jaguar is a dactyl, like my marmoset. I say the "ar" as a definite syllable, but not stressed. It is as if I were saying it as a part of the verb "to be" in a conversational sentence, not "Ah!" like a Romantic Poet, or "Arrr", like a pirate.

Let's ask the man who really knows the beasts: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6byu15
.

Last edited by Ann Drysdale; 08-23-2018 at 03:56 AM. Reason: as above.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 08-22-2018, 12:37 PM
Matt Q Matt Q is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: England, UK
Posts: 4,988
Default

I say it more like Jag-you-uh, like this lady

Though if you're Madness then you rhyme it with "car" for obvious reasons.

Last edited by Matt Q; 08-22-2018 at 12:57 PM. Reason: typo
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 08-22-2018, 12:47 PM
Mark McDonnell Mark McDonnell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Staffordshire, England
Posts: 4,420
Default

Yep, same as Matt and the pronunciation lady.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 08-22-2018, 12:52 PM
Simon Hunt Simon Hunt is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Monterey, CA USA
Posts: 2,328
Default

A lot of americans say JAG-wire, and I've always wondered why. Anybody know? Spanish speakers who live where the animals live say HAHG-wahr...

Last edited by Simon Hunt; 08-22-2018 at 02:25 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 08-22-2018, 01:12 PM
Maryann Corbett's Avatar
Maryann Corbett Maryann Corbett is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Posts: 9,656
Default

I learned to say "JAG-wahr" from Marlin Perkins on Wild Kingdom as a wee person. I didn't know why on earth my teacher pronounced it "JAG-you-are" when she read to us from Winnie the Pooh.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 08-22-2018, 02:12 PM
David Anthony David Anthony is offline
Distinguished Guest Host
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Stoke Poges, Bucks, UK
Posts: 5,081
Default

If it's a car we Brits pronounce it Jag.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Unread 08-22-2018, 05:43 PM
Jayne Osborn's Avatar
Jayne Osborn Jayne Osborn is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Middle England
Posts: 6,950
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Q View Post
I say it more like Jag-you-uh, like this lady
Definitely 3 syllables, the way Matt and the lady in the link pronounce it.. not Jag - U - R with the stress on the last syllable; it's more of an 'a'.

Jayne
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Unread 08-22-2018, 06:29 PM
Aaron Poochigian Aaron Poochigian is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 4,634
Default

Oh, you Brits and what you do to terminal "r"s!
__________________
Aaron Poochigian
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Unread 08-22-2018, 07:32 PM
Jim Moonan Jim Moonan is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 4,197
Default

x
In New England we call jaguars cougars. My brother-in-law has one. Actually both. (Bostonians say jagwah -- the "h" is silent).
x
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



Forum Right Top
Forum Left Bottom Forum Right Bottom
 
Right Left
Member Login
Forgot password?
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,399
Total Threads: 21,841
Total Posts: 270,805
There are 1413 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Sponsor:
Donate & Support Able Muse / Eratosphere
Forum LeftForum Right
Right Right
Right Bottom Left Right Bottom Right

Hosted by ApplauZ Online