>I almost hate to ask, but here goes...

>At the moment I'm wondering about Heerman's and Phalarope. I've just
>returned from California where I saw both and was confounded by the
>proper pronunciation of each. Is there help available? I know
>regionalism would make it difficult, but sometimes I wish there were a
>pronunciation guide to bird names of the world. The plant people have
>one, maybe we should too!
>
>Thanks.
>
>
>
>--
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Becca Knox rknox at scn.org Seattle, Washington
>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Becca

I am no expert, but as a foreign language teacher, I enjoy hearing how
words and names are spoken. So here goes... First you will encounter many
birders with their own peculiarities as to pronunciation, but most names
have a fairly standard pronunciation. By far the most common (in American
English) pronunciation for phalarope is {fal'=8F rop} The first syllable is
stressed and rhymes with Al, the second is "uh" and the third is rope.

Heermann's Gull is a bit trickier, but I have most often heard (and use
myself) the pronunciation equivalent to "here' mun", stressing the first
syllable and using the schwa or "uh" sound for the second syllable. I too
have heard other variations on this one. Hope this helps a bit. Good
birding, Tim