How do you pronounce Denisovich?

[Jean in Wisc]

I've googled and can't find it. We are going to be reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and it seems I ought to teach it using the right pronunciation.

 

I can just envision it. The child gets to college and claims he has read the book "in school" and then says the name wrong. The prof then asks him what school he attended and...

 

:eek::blush:

[Diviya]

I learned it as deh-niss-o-vich, with the accent on the second syllable. One of my favorite books I was ever assigned in school. I even reread it later in life! Can't say that about too many assigned books :001_smile:

[Chris in VA]

SAme as Diviya--tho I catch myself saying den-ee-so-vitch.

 

Good to "see" you, Jean.

[Jean in Wisc]

Thank you!!!

 

Jean

[KAR120C]

Deneesovich... consistent with Ivan being "eevan" but I could be wrong on both. My Russian is actually Ukrainian, and I'm pretty sure they switch the vowels around on purpose just to mess people up. ;)

[Jean in Wisc]

My Russian is actually Ukrainian, and I'm pretty sure they switch the vowels around on purpose just to mess people up. ;)

 

:lol:

[Brigid in NC]

I learned it as deh-niss-o-vich, with the accent on the second syllable.

 

Yep. This is what I think, too. deh-NISS-o-vich :iagree:

[OlgaLA]

Stressed vowels in Russian have longer sounds, so it should be ee.

[zaichiki]

Ack. Agree with Olga.

[chalkboard]

I would think that Olga knows what she is talking about.

 

However, I would tend to go along with the majority of posters, since there are many families in my community who have last names of similar origin, and they don't stress the vowels as long. But, that's probably because over the years the pronunciation of their names has been 'Americanized'.

 

So, I imagine both ways could be right. Just depends on how authentic you want to be.

 

Susan