Nikon Nikon, or Nikon (Page 6): Must be a UK thing. Everyone here pronounces it Nye-Kohn.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

sodapop wrote:

Never heard it any way than "as in high"

Must be a UK thing. Everyone here pronounces it Nye-Kohn.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

turp77 wrote:

I know (kneekon) is used in Japan

I had co-workers that went to Japan for awhile back in the 60's and they came back saying "NICK-ON". Tomatoes or Toemahtos?

Siemienczuk

First let me apologize. I normally read all the posts before commenting, but there are already six pages.

I did kendo for some time, and became familiar with Japanese pronunciation. It’s straightforward. Vowels each have only one pronunciation. So Nikon is “knee-cone.”

Since it’s a name, we shouldn’t apply the rules of pronunciation from our own language. We should pronounce it the way they do (my opinion).

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

FotoHog wrote:

Any poliglot would agree that English is arguably the most inconsistent language.

Inconsistency can be a virtue. Consider English as just being more flexible than most languages. Given the place of the U.S. dollar in the world, at least for now, American English has become the world's most popular second language. With the U.S. is the number one destination for those being forced to leave their homeland or for those who need to support the families they left behind, our ears are becoming ever more tolerant when it comes to pronunciation and grammar. Public schools in most states offer English as a Second Language as a basic course. Most domestic service counters expect you may not even speak it. Is it any wonder that American English is becoming more colorful by the season?

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

Blair Shaw Jr wrote:

Depends where you live.....Americans are hated all over the planet when they butcher the local language and pretend to be astute in spite of the intended attempts at proper pronunciation. I have heard all 3 versions and bought Canon instead.

I know what you mean. My friend liked my Nikon and wanted to buy one too. When the sales guy asked him what kind he wanted he didn't know how to pronounce Nikon and bought a Canon instead! . . .

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Delderby wrote:

An I right in thinking that there is no "i" as in "it" in Japanese? Neekon is pretty close to the English Nikon - but a long way from the American Nykon.

Don't know I am far from fluent in Japanese

(any Japanese speakers?) .... but English is a harder language for foreigners to learn because of so many variations of long and short vowels. Spanish for example is simpler because the vowels are pronounced one way for all words (with possible exception of foreign lingo adopted into the language).

As an aside I was thinking that Nikon is the only camera company with 3 different versions of pronunciation.

Canon (although some misspell it Cannon)
Pentax/ Ricoh
Olympus
Fuji/ Fujinon/ Fujifilm
Sony (Sony the one and only would not jingle if it was "Sunny")
Phase One
Panasonic/ Lumix (does anyone say "Lummicks" or "Loomix")

Some defunct brands:
Contax
Yashica
Praktica
Exackta
Mamiya (I used to call them "Mama Mia")
Bronica

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

Retina wrote:

Inconsistency can be a virtue. Consider English as just being more flexible than most languages.
. . . . Is it any wonder that American English is becoming more colorful by the season?

You mean American English is becoming more colorful just like the graffiti you can see on public property all over the place? . . .

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

All I know about Japanese is that there is no emphasis on individual syllables. I support the Nikon/Nikkor : diner/dinner argument. I think Shakespeare said it best. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Blair Shaw Jr wrote:

Depends where you live.....Americans are hated all over the planet when they butcher the local language and pretend to be astute in spite of the intended attempts at proper pronunciation. I have heard all 3 versions and bought Canon instead.

I got started with Pentax but later regretted it when I heard the astute, edgycated crowd pronounce it “ah-sah-hee pin-tahk-soo.” I decided to put down my cocktail, order a Bud, and switch to a trusty NighKahn. My only canons are parked in the front yard next to the flagpole.

FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

Retina wrote:

I got started with Pentax but later regretted it when I heard the astute, edgycated crowd pronounce it “ah-sah-hee pin-tahk-soo.” I decided to put down my cocktail, order a Bud, and switch to a trusty NighKahn. My only canons are parked in the front yard next to the flagpole.

But you won't know if people salute the flag or the NighKan.. . .

OOPS . . . it was a Canon . . . sorry!

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

FotoHog wrote:

But you won't know if people salute the flag or the NighKan.. . .

Always the Stars and Stripes.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

And of course there are the words that are spelled differently but sound the same...made, maid... And have different meanings too...

chrisg-optical wrote:

Don't know I am far from fluent in Japanese img s... (show quote)

marquina Loc: Richmond, Virginia

turp77 wrote:

I know (kneekon) is used in Japan

You're correct. I know that first hand.

smussler Loc: Land O Lakes, FL - Formerly Miller Place, NY

sodapop wrote:

In many languages, Spanish for example, the letter i is pronounced as e.

As in BEET or BET?

rbmitch123

6 pages of response!!! Who would of thunk it? Or is it thinked?