If you've ever traveled abroad and experienced your share of tourist prejudice, chances are it had more to do with your pronunciation of city names than it did with common language barriers. Thrillophilia's Mispronounced Places photo series illustrates this common problem and shows you the correct way to pronounce the names of cities around the globe.
While many may consider themselves pronunciation pros, they'd be surprised how often Dubai is pronounced "Doo-Bye" when it should be pronounced "Doo-Bay". Other city names featured in this photo series include Bangkok, Thailand whose name is pronounced as "Bang-Kok" more often than its correct name “Bahng-Gawk”.
If you've been saying city names wrong for years without realization, this series will open your mind and hopefully make you learn a thing or two the next time you travel abroad.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Language Pronunciation Education
- There are opportunities for language education apps or services to incorporate city name pronunciations into their curriculum or offerings.
- Cultural Sensitivity Training
- Businesses and organizations that deal with international clients or have employees who travel could offer cultural sensitivity training that includes correct city name pronunciation.
- Artistic Language Learning
- Artists and designers could explore creating visual aids (such as posters or videos) that help people learn correct city name pronunciation in a fun and creative way.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Language Learning
- Language learning companies or apps could incorporate city name pronunciation into their offerings, providing users with a more comprehensive learning experience.
- Tourism
- Tourism companies or organizations could incorporate city name pronunciation education into their materials or offerings, providing travelers with a more immersive and culturally-aware experience.
- Graphic Design
- Graphic designers or artists could create visually appealing and educational posters or videos that teach correct city name pronunciation, potentially targeting language learners or travelers.
