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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| The words we mispronounced in 2018 | The words we mispronounced in 2018 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Christmas is a time for reflection, family and dinner table debates. | Christmas is a time for reflection, family and dinner table debates. |
| But do you ever find yourself stuck mid-conversation on how to pronounce names such as Eugenie (you-JAY-nee) or Geraint (ger-AINT)? You're not alone. | But do you ever find yourself stuck mid-conversation on how to pronounce names such as Eugenie (you-JAY-nee) or Geraint (ger-AINT)? You're not alone. |
| A survey by the British Institute for Verbatim Reporters (BIVR) has identified the most mispronounced names and words of the year. | A survey by the British Institute for Verbatim Reporters (BIVR) has identified the most mispronounced names and words of the year. |
| Entries include electronics firm Huawei (WA-way), specific (spe-SI-fik) and papoose (pa-POOSE). | Entries include electronics firm Huawei (WA-way), specific (spe-SI-fik) and papoose (pa-POOSE). |
| Some of 2018's most commonly mispronounced words: | Some of 2018's most commonly mispronounced words: |
| *Pronunciations provided by Babbel. | |
| Last year's batch included the surname of EU Council President Donald Tusk (toosk), and the title of the Irish prime minister, the taoiseach (tea-shock). | Last year's batch included the surname of EU Council President Donald Tusk (toosk), and the title of the Irish prime minister, the taoiseach (tea-shock). |
| The survey was commissioned by language learning app Babbel. Their director of didactics, Miriam Plieninger, says the reason for the mispronunciations is pretty straightforward - many of the words on the list aren't English. | |
| "We pronounce words in a way we expect them to be pronounced in our own language," she said. | "We pronounce words in a way we expect them to be pronounced in our own language," she said. |
| Mrs Plieninger also had some advice for those of us who itch to correct peers committing a linguistic faux pas. | Mrs Plieninger also had some advice for those of us who itch to correct peers committing a linguistic faux pas. |
| "If you understand what the other person meant, it's usually fine. As long as you get your message across, it's all good." | "If you understand what the other person meant, it's usually fine. As long as you get your message across, it's all good." |