Ant, Aunt, Owwnt?
November 18, 2010
I still haven’t sorted my pictures from the trip. I really hope I do that this weekend. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this audio clip from a few moments ago. I only recorded it the one time so that’s why it’s a bit rambly (though it’s less than 3 minutes long).
Is there a word out there that you say “incorrectly” or just can’t pronounce for the life of you?
I usually pronounce it "ant" with Canadians/Americans and Ahhhnnnnt with people from Hong Kong (in Hong Kong, close family friends a generation older are Ahhhhnnnntie and Uncle so-and-so. Your "REAL" aunts and uncles are referred to by whatever their relationship is to your parents (e.g. your mom's older brother is kow-fu and his wife is kam-mo while your dad's younger sister is gwoo-jei and her husband is gwoo-jeung. So yeah, the more siblings one has, the more names one has (my dad, for example, is, in addition to being my dad, is also a gwoo jeung (because my mom has an older brother), a bak (because he has a younger brother) and a kow fu (he has two younger sisters)). I'm a bew jei (cousin-elder sister), a bew mui (cousin-younger sister) and I think a bew yee (cousin-younger aunt)). Of course, if you're a confused Canadian Born Chinese (CBC) like me, you just call them Aunt and Uncle unless they make you call them whatever their title is.
More on Cantonese family stuff:
A girl/woman is "jei" to anyone younger than her that is of her generation, while she is "mui" to anyone who is older (again, same generation). A boy/man is a gah (think a British "ah") to anyone of his generation who is younger and a dai (pronounced dye) to anyone who is older.
If it is a cousin, then you add "bew" in front of it. In traditional Chinese culture, you don't call anyone by his or her given name. Of course it's different these days. We all use given names for our cousins and siblings (if we have them).
Ooh, ooh! Say "hi" to ME in your next podcast!! ;)
That was really fun to listen to!
OK, it's true. I've never heard anyone else say it that way. That's fine, though. You're unique!
I say it "ant," but I think "ahhhnt" sounds nicer.
Wow. I have never heard it said that way. Where did it come from? But you say Auntie properly right?
Mine is rural. Just found that out a few minutes ago when attempting to say it to my friend. On the phone. I really can't say it. :D
Owwnt! That's awesome! I say…say it however the heck you want and long as you understand that some people might not get what you're saying and you might need to clarify. I think it would be hilarious if from now on you just did like you did in your clip…."I am going to visit my a.u.n.t.". :)
I say ant never heard your version oh well if the people know you are talking about them its ok i guess
I love how you say it! I say keep Owwwnt. I say Ant, and my nephew calls me Auntie (Antee).
The word I get 'wrong' is bagel. I say Bag-uhl, like the word 'bag' with an el on the end. My mother is convinced that it is Bay-guhl. Coupon is another: I say Coo-pon, my mother say Que-pon.
I also have a grandmother who says to-mah-tuh for tomato. Drives me batty but I love her!
I say Aunt. Most of the time. Sometimes I say Ant.
The list of words that I say wrong is long. Very long. Of course right now I can't think of any of them.
I kind of chucked when I listened to that…your pronounciation. I have never heard aunt like that before. :) I personally pronounce aunt as ant or if i am joking around, say it the british way.
You have a very regal voice by the way.