Angolan Influencer Calls for Correct Pronunciation of African Names on Brazilian TV
Key takeaways
- "You do not pronounce ‘Mbappé’ by separating the ‘M’," he says.
- The influencer also explains that letter combinations common in African languages, such as "Ng," represent a single sound and should not be read separately.
- In the post, he also compared the ease with which European names are usually pronounced correctly.
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In a video posted online, he cites examples such as Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba, midfielder N’Golo Kanté and forward Kylian Mbappé, both from France, saying that many Brazilian media professionals usually pronounce the names incorrectly. "You do not pronounce ‘Mbappé’ by separating the ‘M’," he says.
The influencer also explains that letter combinations common in African languages, such as "Ng," represent a single sound and should not be read separately. "I understand that names like mine are difficult to pronounce, but nothing is impossible when you do research. These combinations are not separate letters; they form a single sound in several African languages," he said.
In the post, he also compared the ease with which European names are usually pronounced correctly. "If you can pronounce names like ‘Schweinsteiger,’ you can also pronounce African names," he argues.