Bizarre pronunciation question
 

So, it seems that Leonardo's and Donatello's names have pronunciations that are pretty much universally used ... lee-oh-NAR-doh and don-uh-TELL-oh.

Then there's Michelangelo, who I think most people pronounce mike-uhl-AN-juhl-oh, despite this not being how the artist's name was pronounced.

What about Raphael, though? I've heard it so many ways:

ra-fay-EHL (with the a in the first syllable sounding like the a in "cat")
rah-fay-EHL (with the a in the first syllable sounding like a short o, like in "dog")
ra-fie-EHL
rah-fie-EHL
ra-fee-EHL
rah-fee-EhL
rah-FAY-uhl (this one has the emphasis on the middle syllable)

How do you guys say it?

I say Raphs name as Rahf a el, I hate it when its said Rafiel... i guess that makes sense hehe
Mikey as the common Michael-angelo even tho i knwo it's really meekleangelo or whatever hehe

The way I pronounce it most.

The way old toon Mike pronounced it. I like this one too.

The way The Turtles pronounce it in the new toon. And I think the way Leo pronounced it in the old toon (either this or the one below).

The way Splinter pronounces it in the new toon. And I think the way Raph pronounced it in the first movie (when he tells April his name).

The way Donatello and April pronounced it in the old toon, and the way I sometimes pronounce it when I'm in a hurrry.

Don't recall hearing either of these but it's been so long I'm easily corrected.

i've always felt that the the turtles names where pronouced fine by other characters. And if there was any kind of diffrences on how any character pronouced their names I think it only really reflects that characters personality. I like the refined way Splinter says the turtles name in old and new cartoon. It just rolls off his tongue in such reverant way, almost like he is savoring the way the name sounds.

The only bizarre pronouciaction I've noticed in the turtles names is the way New Toon Leonardo pronouces their names (on the rare occasions he says any ones full name) Especially when he says "Donatello" or "Michaelangelo".

I always pronounced it Raph-a-el. That's one thing in the re-watching of the OT that bugs me, Barry Gordon's pronunciation of Raphael. Rah-fee-el....grrrr....

The only worse Donatello line is when Barry's alternate says "Mute-uh-gin" in Mutagen Monsters....Gahhhh!

Wow, Time Mistress, I gotta pay more attention to this. And go back and check all the mediums again. According to dictionary.com, old toon Mike's way (rah-fay-EHL) is the right one. Well, that and RA-fee-uhl and RAY-fee-uhl, which I've never heard. rah-fee-EHL is the way Donatello pronounced it in one episode of the new toon, I think--in "Prodigal Son," when he says, "Raphael! You made it!" Correct me if I'm wrong though.

Sage Ninja, I think new toon Leo's voice actor has a very slight accent.

I personally (and I'm sorry, Buslady) pronounce it ra-fie-EHL. I think this is how Raph said it in the movie, though, isn't it?

yeah he does, New toon Leonardo's voice actor is dutch and that is why he has a slight accent. There was another thread where Masked Ninja and I where discussing New toon Leonardo's accent and the unique way he says certain words. I think it makes him sound charming and and makes him stand out amoung the other turtles.

and as to the Raphael name, I think the new toon has gotten rid of the delicate problem of pronouncing names wrong by having most of the characters call the the turtles by their shortened nick names.

Oh, cool, Sage! What words have you noticed him pronounce with an accent? I sort of picked up an impression of an accent but can't remember any examples.

2k3 Leo does have an odd way of pronouncing certain words, but overall he doesn't have a strong accent... which is probably why I don't hear it often. He does pronounce "lair" as almost a two-syllable word (1.5 syllable? :P) halfway between "lare" and "LAY-er" which kindasorta bugs me, as "layer" and "lair" are two very different words.

As for Raphael... I tend to blur it as I speak because I'm unsure, hah. I tend to say something kinda like "RAPH ay EL", but mostly I just refer to him as RAPH. :tpizza:

So, if any of you have watched the new clips that have been out, how do you like Splinter's way of pronouncing Raphael's name?

He says it rah-fie-EHL, it sounds like. I'm used to that one, because I think Splinter says it like that in the new cartoon. It's just weird, because looking at the name Raphael, I would never think to pronounce the "a" as an "i". But I started doing that. I blame Splinter. :)

yeah I noticed that too. Barry Gordon really seems to have a reginal accent instead of glossed over neutral one. Actually he talks like some one from upstate new York to be honest with you. But you are right Barry does buther the pronounciation of Raphael's name. Not to the point where it annoys me like it seems to bother you, but it is there.

off the top of my head I can't exactly think of any. But I recently watched the big Brawl and I noticed the says "damiyo" a little difffrently and generally anything with a strong "L" or "K" sound I notice a slightly diffrent infection in his voice. But I could just be nit picking here on that one.

I agree Leo's actor doesn't have a strong accent. in fact its barely there, and I probably wouldn't have noticed it at all if I hadn't made it a hobby to listen real careful to cartoon voices and try to place what other cartoons i've heard this voice in. And because I do that I pick up on little diffrences of inflection in cartoon actors voices all the time so I can indentify them easier when they do diffrent voices. I know i'm a weirdo for doing this, leave me alone :roll:. And I just picked up that Leo's actor had a slight accent that wasn't American. And you are right Masked Ninja, he does pronounce lair as two-syllables like he is saying "LAY-er" I never noticed that before.