what's in a name

[spatz]

I swear I'm going to have an actual recaps of Chicago/Vividcon at some point, but this discussion and meeting people at VVC made me want to ask: how do you pronounce your username?

For myself, 'spatz' is actually German (meaning sparrow) and should be pronounced 'schpots', roughly. However, I am a Texan and gleefully mispronounce it 'spats', like the formal footwear. Back when I was thespatz, I had several people think it was said like 'thespian', which I got a kick out of hearing.

Some of y'all are easy (katieupsidedown, doitninetimes/drunkoffthestars, dotfic, arsenicjade), but I'm still not sure if I'm saying ignipes correctly. (at least I know how to say Kali right? *g*)

Comments

[ignipes]

Everybody I've ever met in person has pronounced it, "I don't know how to pronounce your username." Works for me!

[philomytha]

I'd say it IG-neh-pez. Firefoot, right?

I pronounce my username fill-oh-MEE-tha.

[ignipes]

Yeah, that's it, I think, although I didn't really pay very close attention in Latin class many years ago. I picked it at random without ever considering that anybody might want to say it out loud.

[spatz]

Well, obviously I should have taken Latin, because I have been saying both of y'all wrong :) (fill-oh-MITH-a and ig-NIP-ees, respectively)

What does Philomytha mean, btw? I guessed that Philomythulus was a diminutive, but I have no idea about the root.

[philomytha]

'Lover of myths', literally. It comes from a poem by Tolkien, 'Mythopoeia', which is subscribed 'Philomythus to Misomythus' ie 'myth-lover to myth-hater'. It's a poem that means a lot to me, so I turned it into the feminine form for my username and I'm still quite fond of it :-). And yes, Philomythulus is a diminutive masculine form.

[spatz]

Oh, that's lovely! Thanks for the translation :)

Also, belated happy birthday! I hope you had a great one. ♥

[spatz]

Hee! Then Lindsey and I will continue to say it 'ig-NIP-ees', probably ;)