Most Commonly Mispronounced Mathematicians

[micromass]

So how do you pronounce Banach?

Is google translate accurate here: http://translate.google.com/#pl/nl/Banach
In that case, it's how I usually pronounce it.

 

[gmax137]

...

I have a hard time with the "Ct..." starting when I first read H P Lovecraft stories. So, how do you pronounce Cthugha?

 

[Cthugha]

I have a hard time with the "Ct..." starting when I first read H P Lovecraft stories. So, how do you pronounce Cthugha?

Actually using a lot of sneezing powder helps. Use a lot of it and listen to the sound that accompanies the sneezing: voila, this will be about the right pronounciation. ;)

Showing some more nerd credibility, I once read an annotated version of one of Lovecraft's books (annotated versions of pulp horror stories - welcome to modern literature research) claiming that in one of his letters Lovecraft stated "Cthulhu" should be pronounced "Khlûl'-hloo". I suppose Cthugha should be somewhat similar. On the other hand, nobody pronounces it like that, so I do not really know to pronounce all that stuff correctly.

If we have some biologist from California present in these forums, he might be able to help. Their job might force them to say these words sometimes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimoa_cthulhu

 

[Borek]

Is google translate accurate here: http://translate.google.com/#pl/nl/Banach
In that case, it's how I usually pronounce it.

Reasonably correct.

 

[Dembadon]

Poisson is not a name I've heard pronounced correctly very often.

 

[hsetennis]

Poisson is not a name I've heard pronounced correctly very often.

is Pwa-soh(n) correct?

 

[Dembadon]

is Pwa-soh(n) correct?

Yep! It makes me think of the crazy chef in Disney's The Little Mermaid.

 

[mathwonk]

Endre Szemerédi