There is only one A in "triathlon"!
The inaugural Austin Tri was on Monday, and it got a lot of coverage on the local news. Normally I would think this was a great thing, but by the end of the day I was ready to throw my running shoes at the TV. Why? Because I had to listen to this: Hundreds of athletes took part in today's triathalon... Conditions were ideal for the Austin Triathalon... Local wins triathalon... triathalon... triathalon... triathalon...
It's a TRIATHLON, not a triathalon. No extra A. But no: All the newscasters called it a triathalon. Every. Single. Time. All. Day. Long. I would have rather spent the day digging out a splinter from underneath my fingernail than hearing this; it would have been less vexing. How is it that reporters can pronounce difficult names of foreign leaders, but they can't get a phonetically straightforward word in the English language right? Why is Jaap de Hoop Scheffer easier to say than triathlon?
Perhaps in a misguided attempt at recycling, the teleprompter writer wanted to do something with the leftover vowels that Central Texans have a penchant for dropping from certain words (Guadalupe becomes Guadaloop; San Antonio, San Antone; Manchaca, Manchac).
Random guy in news room: "Why did you spell “triathlon” with an extra A?"
Teleprompter writer: "Fight global warming! Save the A’s!"
5 the peanut gallery:
I've been known to add the extra "a." *hangs head in shame* I think. Now I'm confused.
I agree.
And I'm the same way with nuclear.
It's NOT nucular...*sigh*
:)
Here in Oklahoma, we train our rookie newscasters by giving them stories that revolve around Okmulgee, Talequah, Muskogee & Pawhuska to name a few. If they can consistently get them right, then they get to work the stories in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
Inky & geo:
At least you're not paid to pronounce things properly. I think that's a big part of what upped the annoyance factor for me.
Cindy:
I'm sure I would butcher those.
I am such a frelling linguist sometimes! Pronunciation variety, sound shifts, popularity makes "right"... YUM, YUM, YUM!!!
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