in thinking that most British people have an idea how to pronounce Ratatouille

[margoandjerry]

and don't need that inane explanatory bracket on the ad for the film. Americans maybe, but then they say aluminum and urbs so what do they know ?

I was thinking exactly the same about that too. But I THINK it's to emphasise it's about rats rather than tomatoes. Haven't seen the film though.

I acksherly say 'rat-a-twee', so obv. I do need the pronunciation guide.

Apparently the film was "considered a tough sell by Pixar standards in America - apparently US audiences couldn't pronounce the title..." according to the Times on Saturday. Don't think I've seen the ad, but I have at least confirmed your theory, margoandjerry.

Radio 4 said the pronunciation guide was for the US too.

I don't know if the film includes recipe but that could get very odd as they prnounce
courgette 'zucchini' and aubergine 'eggplant'.

I know it's an old one, but I do love the story about 'The Madness of King George III' being released as 'The Madness of King George' in the States, cos otherwise lots of Americans would have thought 'No point seeing that, I missed The Madness of King George I and II'.

he he!

Policywonk, I think your pronounciation is closer to the actual French anyway. I think the "too-ee" is sort of swallowed into one syllable or maybe one and a half. But will await confirmation from the next genuine French person who happens to be passing.

Yes, it's for the Americans. And what drove me mad in the film was that all the characters had French accents, it being set in France and all that. Except the lead characters, who were American. Why FFS? Get over yourselves (filmmakers, not our lovely American friends of course).

"aluminum" is actually the original name given by Sir Humphrey Davy - it was only given the -ium suffix to make it like other elements.

Agree about "urbs" though. Makes me shudder!

ah yes, urbs like baysil and oREGano and cilantro. And cup measurements in recipes.

does muchly of the american cooking

PW, I am roffling @ The Madness of King George.

The girl i sit next to at work said "i wanna take my sister to see Ratatootoo".

I promptly corrected her!

erm, I reckon there are lots of Brits who would not know how to pronounce ratatouille. I would go so far as to say most Brits.

I can pronounce it! I'm not bothered by the Pixar/Disney need to spell it out either, it's so obviously aimed at the Americans!

Quite agree, margo. It's the first thing that struck me when I saw the ads.

And if you don't know, ask!!

Like pw I would say rat-a-twee.

But you can imagine what most Americans would make of it! "radat-ow-ill"?

I'd agree most Brits would have heard of it but most wouldn't know how to spell it or to make it.

Ok, I'm lost, until now I was sure I knew how to pronounce ratatouille, but I haven't seen the adverts, and now I'm not so sure!

or "radado-u-ill-e"?

I can;t imagine anyone in Brighton have trouble. < Smug >

Perhaps it's trickier for ... no. I daren't.

Now I feel like a plonker, the advert is there

------->

ratta tooey (me)
ratta chewy ds and dd
ratta tooly ds2

My dcs hate the dish in question (dh and I love it, so serve it a lot). The dcs give it a rather rude deliberate mispronounciation, inserting a 'p' where it is not needed!

I noticed the posters in the tube tunnels and was irritated too.

margo- thanks goodness it wasn't just me being annoyed by it!