Putin

[Thomas Paikeday]

One of many possible reasons, it seems to me, is that (poo.TEEN) is the
pronunciation of "poutine" (Cdn.Fr.) which, according to the Oxford Canadian,
means "a dish of french fries topped with cheese curds and a sauce, usu. gravy."
There is also the English speaker's tendency to retract stresses to the first
syllables of words. Of course, I am being facetious, if you will forgive an old
fart.

RonButters at AOL.COM wrote:

> Why do American TV announcers pronounce the name of the Russian leader
> POOT-uhn (which sounds like a kind of euphemism for farting) instead of
> poo-TEEN (which is surely closer to the way that the Russians say it, and in
> any case hasn't the weird connotations)?

                   THOMAS M. PAIKEDAY, lexicographer since 1964
           Latest work: "The User's™ Webster," Lexicography, Inc., 2000
           A unique dictionary that shows idiomatic and typical usage
            Trade paperback, 5¼" x 8¼", 1,300 pp., $7.99 / Cdn$11.95
                               ISBN 0-920865-03-8
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