NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 176
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Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
kicking the Cannes
Every year when the Cannes Film Festival rolls around, TV folks
"nearly come to blows over Can versus Kahn," writes Barry Nolan
of "Extra":
"Could you please give us a pronouncer for that city in France...?
In the interest of peace in newsrooms everywhere I think it
would be an excellent idea to do such a lesson. The tough
question is not how the natives pronounce it, but how should we
import it? However, please know that at one time we called up
the Chamber of Commerce in that fine French city, and they told
us their preference was `Kahn.' Of course the `Can' fans were
unimpressed.
"It always sounds a little funny when someone breaks into a full
French accent on a word like `liaison' in the middle of an
otherwise mid-Atlantic sentence. On the other hand, some words
can sound kind of clanky without at least a nod toward the
natives..."
We don't say "Pah-ree" for Paris, though the former is a lot closer to
what the natives call it.
Mrs. B has always pronounced Cannes as "can."
Her advice is to say it whichever way feels more comfortable to you.
Just, please, don't pronounce the "es" at the end.
"Can" or "Kahn": your choice.
And you have Mrs. B's blessing, for what it's worth.
