What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Tamas]

Well yeah English-speaking people in general merrily ignore how something was meant to be pronounced. Case in point the cities he listed. Or e.g. Blenheim palace which is wholesomely pronounced "Blanam" over here.

[The Brain]

The D-man must be a hoot when talking about thyme or the Thames.

[Sheilbh]

Well yeah English-speaking people in general merrily ignore how something was meant to be pronounced. Case in point the cities he listed. Or e.g. Blenheim palace which is wholesomely pronounced "Blanam" over here.

Blenem

And you're right - but I've never heard anyone pronounce Thailand as "Thighland"

[The Brain]

In Trump's defense he has no idea who or what Thailand is.

[Admiral Yi]

Well yeah English-speaking people in general merrily ignore how something was meant to be pronounced. Case in point the cities he listed. Or e.g. Blenheim palace which is wholesomely pronounced "Blanam" over here.

Are other language speakers any better?  Honest question.

I know, for example, that we follow the French pronounciations for German cities (i.e. Cologne instead of Koln), which suggests they are just as bad, or worse, than we are.  Which is closer to the native pronounciation, the English Cambodia or the French Camboge?  Lebanon or Liban?

I wonder who's to blame for Florence instead of Firenze.

[The Larch]

I wonder who's to blame for Florence instead of Firenze.

Latin, most likely. It was Florentia during Roman times (and I believe the name is even of Etruscan origin).

[Syt]

Well yeah English-speaking people in general merrily ignore how something was meant to be pronounced. Case in point the cities he listed. Or e.g. Blenheim palace which is wholesomely pronounced "Blanam" over here.

Blenem

And you're right - but I've never heard anyone pronounce Thailand as "Thighland"

It's next to Yo Semite.

[Admiral Yi]

Latin, most likely. It was Florentia during Roman times (and I believe the name is even of Etruscan origin).

Ah, so it's the Italians who fucked it up. 

[Maladict]

Are other language speakers any better?  Honest question.

I know, for example, that we follow the French pronounciations for German cities (i.e. Cologne instead of Koln), which suggests they are just as bad, or worse, than we are.  Which is closer to the native pronounciation, the English Cambodia or the French Camboge?  Lebanon or Liban?

I wonder who's to blame for Florence instead of Firenze.

I'd say of the European languages English speakers are definitely below average, probably from not being exposed to other languages as much.

And there is a difference between exonyms (Munich, Cologne, Florence, Rome) and mispronouncing the name as written in the original language.

[Admiral Yi]

mispronouncing the name as written in the original language.

An example please.

[The Brain]

I'm not a fan of people going out of their way to use the native pronunciations of personal names or places. It breaks the flow of speech when you suddenly pronounce a word in a completely different style, and it also often sounds contrived and pretentious. Add to this the effect of sometimes only thinking that you know the native pronunciation. I would find it a bit ridiculous if an English-speaker tried to pronounce my name in Swedish, or Stockholm in Swedish. When I speak English I use English pronunciations of my name and of Stockholm.

[Admiral Yi]

or Stockholm in Swedish.

Yota Burry. 

[Sheilbh]

mispronouncing the name as written in the original language.

An example please.

Americans pronouncing almost any English placename

I can well believe we are, as a group, as bad at foreign place names.

[The Brain]

or Stockholm in Swedish.

Yota Burry. 

Gah.

[Sheilbh]

I'm not a fan of people going out of their way to use the native pronunciations of personal names or places. It breaks the flow of speech when you suddenly pronounce a word in a completely different style, and it also often sounds contrived and pretentious. Add to this the effect of sometimes only thinking that you know the native pronunciation. I would find it a bit ridiculous if an English-speaker tried to pronounce my name in Swedish, or Stockholm in Swedish. When I speak English I use English pronunciations of my name and of Stockholm.

Yeah it's a bit weird if you're having an English conversation and as you say pretentious. But obviously in country/asking for directions etc need to try and get it right.