How do you pronounce Buffet?

[Stephen Howard]

On Wed, 09 Jul 2003 21:40:20 -0500, Robbie and Laura Reynolds

Is it pronounced the same as Jimmy Buffet, the popular musician?
Or is it the same as an all you can eat buffet?
I recently took a job at a music store as a part time saxophone repair
tech, and the salesman asked me what type of clarinet a customer had
brought in for me to look at. I told him that it was made by Buffet,
but he laughed at my pronunciation. Then it occurred to me that
although I have seen the name in print many times, I had never heard
anybody say it before.

It's pronounced thus:

The Buff sounds like Book, but with an F instead of a K.. Boof
The Et is a straight A sound, as in 'the A team'

Regards,

[Pjlasax]

BOOFAY...is the closest phonetic way to say it.
pjl

[Anders Carlsson]

That's the French way. Often here in the US it is pronounced like
smorgasbord, er, the all-you-can-eat food line.

Umm.. a Smorgasbord (cheers the Swedish origin, btw) Crampon?

Speaking of which, a while ago I saw a Buffet clarinet mouthpiece
and pear (probably stuck together) for sale on a Swedish auction
site. The mouthpiece however was corroded on the upper side,
leaving an arc shaped hole where one is supposed to have your
upper lip. I guess it was a little difficult to play on... :-)

[Stephen Howard]

There are many French proper names and place names that are not pronounced
in the French manner. An easy example is Paris. If I pronounced it Paree,
people would think me rather pretentious at best. And it's not just French,
most non-English/American name / places are not pronounced as they would be
in their native tongue.
As I am American, I suspect the French would pronounce my name many ways,
and none would be as flattering as your example.
Mark Bushaw (From the French, Beauchamp)

Lol, you got me there.

You're absolutely right - I withdraw my observation. The pints are on
me!

Can we at least agree that the ET bit is pronounced AY - a hard T at
the end just doesn't do the grand name of Buffet any justice.

Bien à toi,

[Mark Bushaw]

<start phony French accent> Mai Oui! But of course! </end phoney French
accent>

Make mine a bitters. And if I'm not there in time, please don't let it go to
waste.

Mark

Post by Stephen Howard

There are many French proper names and place names that are not pronounced
in the French manner. An easy example is Paris. If I pronounced it Paree,
people would think me rather pretentious at best. And it's not just French,
most non-English/American name / places are not pronounced as they would be
in their native tongue.
As I am American, I suspect the French would pronounce my name many ways,
and none would be as flattering as your example.
Mark Bushaw (From the French, Beauchamp)

Lol, you got me there.
You're absolutely right - I withdraw my observation. The pints are on
me!
Can we at least agree that the ET bit is pronounced AY - a hard T at
the end just doesn't do the grand name of Buffet any justice.
Bien à toi,
--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

[Robbie and Laura Reynolds]

Post by Stephen Howard
Can we at least agree that the ET bit is pronounced AY - a hard T at
the end just doesn't do the grand name of Buffet any justice.
Bien à toi,

OK, from now on it's a clarinay, not a clarinet. And don't forget
trumpay.

[Stephen Howard]

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 19:27:54 -0500, Robbie and Laura Reynolds

Post by Robbie and Laura Reynolds

Post by Stephen Howard
Can we at least agree that the ET bit is pronounced AY - a hard T at
the end just doesn't do the grand name of Buffet any justice.
Bien à toi,

OK, from now on it's a clarinay, not a clarinet. And don't forget
trumpay.

Surely you mean " don't forgay clarinay "?

I'm not buying any more pints!

Cheers,

[Anders Carlsson]

Post by Robbie and Laura Reynolds
OK, from now on it's a clarinay, not a clarinet.

This reminds of the joke:

-"I spent my vacation in San José."
-"Chosé."
-"What?"
-"It is pronounced in that way. The letter J is ch in Spanish."
-"Oh, ok."
-"So, where were you there?"
-"From the last week of Chune to the middle of Chuly!"

[Robbie and Laura Reynolds]

There are many French proper names and place names that are not pronounced
in the French manner. An easy example is Paris. If I pronounced it Paree,
people would think me rather pretentious at best. And it's not just French,
most non-English/American name / places are not pronounced as they would be
in their native tongue.

That's what I was thinking when I first asked the question. I'm from
Texas, where they say "Amarillo" the way it is spelled in English,
instead of pronouncing it amaree-o, as it would be in the original
Spanish. Not only that, but doesn't the word clarinet have French
origin? In English we pronounce the T at the end.