What's In a Name?

[cassandane]

Something that I've wondered about is the different pronunciations of people's names in the OT.

When Leia's was changed in ESB, I figured that they just changed it and that was that.  At least it was consistent after that.

But Han's name was pronounced by Leia in ESB like 'hand' minus the 'd' when she says to Lando as he's being strangled by Chewie  "what about Han?"  and Lando says it that way too, "there's time to save Han".

Lando also says it that way in Jedi when he's in flight in the Falcon waiting for the shield generator to blow.


So, my question is this?  Why isn't it consistent?  Didn't someone stop and go..."uh, what is the correct pronunciation?"  That's one thing I've always felt to be bizarre.  Was it sloppy work or do I need to chill out?  

What do you think?  

[Zyra]

It has always bothered me when Leia says it wrong that one time.  My theory on this is that Carrie Fisher just said it that way that one time because Billy Dee Williams kept saying it that way.  Although I think I've heard George Lucas say it the way BDW does.  I like it the other way, though.  It's probably just one of those names that is correct either way.  You know, like there are two ways to say Tara and nobody ever knows which way to say it.  I always say the way they say their own name is the right way, understandably.  

[[e-mail]]

I've always gone by how the characters pronounce their own names. Han calls himself Hahn (like the German 'Hans') in ANH and Leia says "Lay-ah" and not "Lee-ah" I know GL says the OTHER pronouciations, but oh, well.. my rule!
As far as the inconsistancies, name pronouciations is just one of the continuity problems SW has. Doesn't mean we don't love it any less  ;D

[makulit]

i think i know why fisher have different pronunciations on different ep's (ie ANH & EB)...

i read somewhere that she said that she just came from a drama school in London when she auditioned for the role of Princess Leia and even pointed out that she would sometimes unknowingly say her dialogue with a British accent

on the part of the other characters...i have no idea why they can't agree on one pronunciation...it is in fact a proper name

although here in our country, people from different regions have different ways of saying a single name like some would pronounce Michael with "Maykuhl", while the others would say "Maykel", just as how African Americans & Texans speak differently

it's just probably a case of i say "tomaytoe" you say "tomahto"

what other theories can you think of?

[RebelHawk]

I believe that, even to this day, George Lucas pronounces it Han (hand minus the "d") Solo and Leia (Lee-uh).  

I don't think the pronunciation is that big of an issue, but if it bigs you, just think of it this way: Lando grew up on one planet, Leia on another, Luke on yet another.  They pronounce names differently.

Also, remember that the films are not shot in the sequence of the scenes we see.  It is possible that the scene in ESB when Leia says "Han"(d) was shot before other scenes where Leia calls him Han.  That's also why, I believe, Carrie Fisher's adopted British accent comes and goes throughout ANH.  The scenes where it is full on were shot first, as the filming went on, she gradually lost it.

8)

[Toryn Farr]

I've always pronounced Han as Haan and Leia as Lay-uh. Theres also the Hebrew Leah which is pronounced Lay-uh in all the prayers and stuff. My mom actually forgot my hebrew name so now its Leah  

[Abrodd]

Okay, first, I must say that English is my second language and that I have a British accent.

I prunounce "Han" as they did in the first film, because it was the first way I heard and I hated the new "Han"(d) way (one reason is the accent).

I pronounce "Leia" as "Leya" (y as in young), because that was the first way I heard it (I think).

***

But how do you pronounce Jaina (their daughter)?

[calista]

I pronounce Jaina - Jayna don't know if that's right or not? Anyway what about all those weird alien names that come up in the novels I don't know how to begin pronouncing names like Joruus C'Baoth or Yarna d' al' Gargan!!LOL

[Abrodd]

I pronounce Jaina like that too, but what about the A? It's the same problem as with Han, I'd say.

calista said:

Anyway what about all those weird alien names that come up in the novels I don't know how to begin pronouncing names like Joruus C'Baoth or Yarna d' al' Gargan!!LOL

(i've never seen these names before, so I'll guess.)

Joruus; o as in for, uu as Swedish u. (I'd describe Swedish u with remove the j-sound (y-sound) from English U and there.)
C'Baoth; C as the letter c, the rest as it's written.

Yarna d' al' Gargan; Y or J-sound, both a as in hard. d' al' (ever read Italian) dal, a as in hard. Gargan; Hard G, a as in hard, throat-r (but not as much as French), Hard g, almost as k, a as in hard, n as in in. ;D