Pronunciation is Important, especially with local radio

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submitted by Jack

January 27, 2023

A belated “Happy New Year”

I believe it’s high time that some of the on-air folk in Vancouver Radio other than the CBC clean up their act. News 1130 has ID’s saying “NYOOZ 1130”. There announcers come on right after those ID’S saying “NOOZ”. Back in 1976 when I took the “Columbia School of Broadcasting course we were taught that it’s pronounced “NYOOZ”. In the US they say “NOOZ” . Can we not refine this out west already??? How about the work “LIKE”. It’s repeated in our everyday speech chronically every day. I have begun to make this language making me sick. Why? Doesn’t anyone here Critique their work from Airchecks anymore??? It sounds like nobody really cares about this. Do you???

10 COMMENTS

  1. I worked News1130 from 06-10 and I was a stickler to get it right and no problem being corrected. I also taught at the old Columbia Academy from 00-01 and I shook my head at what the education system teaches.. Remember that programmers do not program anymore— their job is to balance the books

  2. I get upset at what I hear on the radio and TV these days but I get told to “get with the times”. It isn’t just “nooz” or “nyooz”(which is the correct way) it’s a myriad of other mispronunciations. Coquihalla should be “halla” not “hall-a”. I guess you had to be around when it opened to know that. Tsawwassen has a ‘silent’ “T”. Many local indigenous names have been anglicized and have dropped the “T” here and in the U.S. Sarslip, and Simsian are only a couple. I could go on but I think, and hope, industry folk will get my point.

  3. I’m a Columbia grad from 1979. The news pronunciation drives me. Remember IDIOTS…it’s like music, not mood.
    Not sure if other guy commenting here has Tsawwassen correct. The T is pronounced lightning quick, but it is audible… almost a combined T and s.
    Overall, many, many of today’s broadcasters are awful in pronunciation and proper emphasis.
    I’d love to teach a course at BCIT.

  4. In fairness, most of the Lower Mainland does put the T in Tsawwassen. That may not be correct, but it’s becoming common practice

    Beyond that, you’re looking at a vast majority of on-air folks who’ve been working for 2,3,4 years fresh out of BCIT. That’s clearly not how it used to be 20,30 years ago, and it’s changed how the products sounds and is delivered, and not necessarily in a good way.

    But it’s cheaper. And that’s all that matters to Rogers and whichever companies now own radio stations

  5. roger pedacter wrote: “…put the T in Tsawwassen. That may not be correct, but it’s becoming common practice.”
    That doesn’t make it right.
    He also wrote, “…fresh out of BCIT. That’s clearly not how it used to be 20,30 years ago, and it’s changed how the product sounds and is delivered, and not necessarily in a good way.”
    At one time, before you worked in Vancouver or any major market, you had to labour in a small town under a PD who cared how the station sounded and learn how to express yourself properly. Sadly, broadcast schools don’t teach that. Getting the technical end alone doesn’t make you a professional broadcaster.

  6. I think you meant “word” not word. I guess it’s OK to type incorrectly and then pick on people for pronunciation.

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