How do you pronounce the name of this famous New Wave director?
September 9, 2008 9:40 PM Subscribe
How do you pronounce the name of the director of 'Hiroshima Mon Amour'?
I can't believe it's taken this long for this question to come up. I've been aware of his name for more than 15 years, and have even studied his films. During a discussion of "Marienbad", a colleague (a film buff) called him "REZ-NAY", and I was stunned. Then another friend (another film buff) at the table concurred.
Is it possible that I've been pronouncing his name wrong (in my head, apparently) ALL THIS TIME? Could someone with enough authority on the matter or solid evidence please settle this vexing issue? A simple "Well, I've always pronounced it ______" really won't do at this stage.
I can't believe it's taken this long for this question to come up. I've been aware of his name for more than 15 years, and have even studied his films. During a discussion of "Marienbad", a colleague (a film buff) called him "REZ-NAY", and I was stunned. Then another friend (another film buff) at the table concurred.
Is it possible that I've been pronouncing his name wrong (in my head, apparently) ALL THIS TIME? Could someone with enough authority on the matter or solid evidence please settle this vexing issue? A simple "Well, I've always pronounced it ______" really won't do at this stage.
His name is Alain Resnais. I looked it up so other people don't have to. D:
I would also say Re-nay. My authority is simply that I speak intermediate French. How have you been saying it?
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:58 PM on September 9, 2008
I would also say Re-nay. My authority is simply that I speak intermediate French. How have you been saying it?
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:58 PM on September 9, 2008
On not previewing, I just saw the youtube - he says it 7 seconds in. Réné, rhymes "Meh"-whey.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:01 PM on September 9, 2008
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:01 PM on September 9, 2008
Response by poster: Explanation: I purposely left the name out as I didn't want to encourage random guesses if you weren't familiar with him already. Apologies to those who aren't, but I'm really looking for authoritative answers.
posted by war wrath of wraith at 10:02 PM on September 9, 2008
posted by war wrath of wraith at 10:02 PM on September 9, 2008
The guy being interviewed in the clip actually met Resnais. That's what the interview's about. Presumably, that's somewhat authoritative unless Resnais was just too polite to correct him when he got it wrong.
posted by juv3nal at 10:04 PM on September 9, 2008
posted by juv3nal at 10:04 PM on September 9, 2008
My French-born French Film professor in college said "Re-nay".
posted by judith at 10:13 PM on September 9, 2008
posted by judith at 10:13 PM on September 9, 2008
The name is said several times by two different individuals - all pronounced the same way. It's not an unusual French name, were I you I would be comfortable with their pronunciation.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:14 PM on September 9, 2008
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:14 PM on September 9, 2008
As someone who speaks fluent French, I think re-nay is correct.
posted by PTCHFRKR at 3:22 AM on September 10, 2008
posted by PTCHFRKR at 3:22 AM on September 10, 2008
Ren-ay
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:47 AM on September 10, 2008
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:47 AM on September 10, 2008
It's ray-nay, with a subtle difference between the 2 "ay" sounds.
Written in phonetic French it would be pronounced as rénè.
languagehat could explain it better.
posted by bru at 8:16 AM on September 10, 2008
Written in phonetic French it would be pronounced as rénè.
languagehat could explain it better.
posted by bru at 8:16 AM on September 10, 2008
For anglophone phonetics, Alvy's got the best answer thus far.
posted by genghis at 8:42 AM on September 10, 2008
posted by genghis at 8:42 AM on September 10, 2008
The YouTube clip confirms what I always thought, and yes, "re-nay" is about as good as an English-speaker is going to do (though the final vowel doesn't have the -y offglide in French)>
posted by languagehat at 9:10 AM on September 10, 2008
posted by languagehat at 9:10 AM on September 10, 2008
Response by poster: Whew. Fifteen years of retro-embarrassment averted! Thank you all for pitching in.
posted by war wrath of wraith at 10:57 AM on September 10, 2008
posted by war wrath of wraith at 10:57 AM on September 10, 2008
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(though I can't answer your question, sorry.)
posted by so_necessary at 9:57 PM on September 9, 2008