Munich or München?

[Adso de Fimnu]

This is intended primarily for English speakers, but I suppose other people can answer too...
Do you prefer foreign names 'translated' into their English (or whatever language you speak) equivalents? Or do you like the real thing?
This becomes an issue in Civ III when you consider city names...

 

[Amenhotep7]

I like the real thing. I call Hawaii Havai'i.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Non-English speaker, but I prefer that traditional English names are used in English text.

 

[nonconformist]

I say Munich, so I voted for that, but it would be easier to just call it Munchen.

 

[El Sop]

I don't have a problem with the English calling München Munich, but I do have a problem with the Italians calling it Monaco IIRC.

 

[Marla_Singer]

In English, Munich is called Munich.

I don't really understand that thing about naming cities in the way it's supposedly told in their genuine language. Simply because an english speaker will never pronounce it as a german speaker... so it's only about "pretending to".

For instance, the Chinese capital city, Peking, has been renamed Beijing... so english speakers call it Beijing. However, if you want to really pronounce it as it sounds in Mandarin, it would be pronounced : Bpaydtin'.

I like the fact my city is called Payrisss in English and not Pahrrri like in French. I like the fact it's called Parigi in Italian, that New York is called Nueva York in Spanish, and London Londres in French. Why would we remove such a diversity if it's not necessary ?

 

[Silverflame]

Munich is easier to pronounce, and I like to put emphasis on the ICH, not the U, so Munich it is.

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Two - One!! Two - One!!!!

 

[Amenhotep7]

@anarchywrksbest

What?

 

[Dr Jimbo]

Munich. I'm not about to start learning where all the umlauts, graves, egues and crazy Scandinavian circles live on the keyboard.
But seriously, spelling every place name as it is in its own language is awkward and confusing, and smacks of over-PC-ness.

 

[Marla_Singer]

@anarchywrksbest

What?

Manchester has beaten Munich 2-1 in the Champion's league final few years ago. I guess he was refering to that game.

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Of course. I refer to locations by random events.

 

[Amenhotep7]

Ah. Thanks.

I'm not European, so chances are I wouldn't know.

 

[BassDude726]

I like Hamburg and Frankfurt... they make me hungry.

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Manchester has beaten Munich 2-1 in the Champion's league final few years ago. I guess he was refering to that game.

Oh and it wasn't Manchester, it was Manchester United. The thousands of Manchester City fans might have something to say about that.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

The one time I tried to pronounce "Munchen" in front of Germans I think I offended them.

From now on, I make it a policy to completely Americanize any foreign word or phrase that I say.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I refer to it as Munich. Only because I speak English. If I spoke German, then I would probably call it Munchen(with the two little dot doodads)

 

[BassDude726]

I agree with you, SN. It really annoys me when my fellow Americans try to say French words correctly and end up butchering them and sounding like complete morons at the same time. If you can't speak the language, either learn it or don't try.

 

[Illustrious]

In English, Munich is called Munich.

Absolutely!

In the same way, the English name for Bombay is, and always will be, Bombay. No PC fascists will persuade me to call it Mumbai. Don't care if the Indians call it Mumbai - that's their right; my right is to call it Bombay.

In any case, if they change it to Mumbai, where does that leave Bollywood? Hooray for Mollywood, anyone?

Also, i'm sure Marla will understand if I continue to put an "s" on the end of what she would call Marseille...

 

[BassDude726]

So why did Ceylon change to Sri Lanka and Constantinople to Istanbul?