Should a person who can't even PRONOUNCE the word "karate" be allowed to teach it?

[SifuAbel]

depends what state you're from. In florida and gerogia its kaw-rotty. In N. Carlolina its Cow-routty. in S dakota is krotehh. In california ki rot tee. In Boston its however JFK would say it. You know, "like pawhk the cahr" or 'mawrbles". Kaw raw ta.

Its pronounced as its spelled ka ra te(teh).

[supercrap]

Yes everybody.

People say karatee.

When it should be ka-ra-teh.

(Just thought I'd say it one more time, you know, in case nobody got it from all the above posts.)

That's KA RA TEH PEOPLE!

[Matt Stone]

When posting similarly themed comments at Martial Talk, the standard answer given to me by both moderators and members was "Americans use the word X way, so the pronunciation/romanization they use is just fine."

I lived in Japan for nearly 4 years. I lived in Korea for about a year and a half 15 years ago, and I'm going back again next May. Americans wander about wondering why nobody speaks English... The clue that they are in SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY seems to be lost on most of them.

I've given up. People deserve exactly what they get, especially when it is from people who are ambulatory idiots themselves...

[Deadpan Scientist]

Peedee is the racism.

[Judah Maccabee]

I can't stop giggling at the word "krotty."

As for the pronounciation, barring a severe linguistic disability, it shouldn't be hard for someone to pronounce the art/profession they've attained skill in. That would be like a poli-sci professor saying "Welcome to "poly-tackle seance".

[Ippatsu182]

I don't think it's a bad thing, because people don't always take karate to learn about Japanese culture.

The problem with mispronunciation has more to do with the romanization of foreign words (i.e. which vowel sounds should be used when pronouncing a word). This is so clear in Japanese where everything has strict vowel sounds.

• "tomato" = to mah to
• "potato" = po tay to
• "file" = file
• "profile" = profill

Honestly, most of my Japanese students who are studying English get a kick out of it when they say "karate" or "karaoke" with an American accent. Of course most of them don't understand me when I tell them I'm learning "Brazilian jiu JITSU." I guess "jiu-jitsu" is pronounced "JUU jutsu" in Japanese.

[PeedeeShaolin]

And Zhoo Zhitsu if your a Gracie.

[PeedeeShaolin]

Peedee is the racism.

You're correct, I hate people of all races equally and from top to bottom.

[supercrap]

More like Zoo Zeetsu!

[MUT]

More like Zoo Zeetsu!

now now supercrap no ended to let the australian accent get out of control.....



Personally though....everyone has different accents and as long as the teacher can teach properly I raelly couldn't give a crap.