Matsuda

[Joel S. Berson]

At 2/26/2010 09:49 AM, Joel S. Berson wrote:
>At 2/26/2010 01:07 AM, Douglas G. Wilson wrote:
>>n contrast, the Mazda name appears to be a novel alteration of the
>>founder's name Matsuda 松田, I suppose adapted for an eye-catching
>>exoticism. The frequent surname Matsuda (usually "ma tsu da") apparently
>>has some alternative pronunciations (e.g., "ma tsu ta") but Mazda (= "ma
>>zu da") doesn't seem to be one of them. In Japanese the company name is
>>written plain "ma tsu da" and at least sometimes so spoken [in (e.g.)
>>home-market Mazda TV ads (some can be seen on YouTube)]. I deny any
>>expertise.
>
>Is "Matsuda" ever elided to "mats-da"?  That
>might have led someone choosing a name for international use to "mas-da".

As I now see Rhino1515 and Martin said on Language Log.

Joel

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