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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
Eryk
I'll tell you guys why I ask after several responses... I'm just curious if there are several different interpretations on pronounciation
thanks everyone
this is what I thought. there's pretty much one main way Americans would pronounce this ethnic name.... and it is the same way it's pronounced in Poland!
OK, so here's the assinine story behind this...
DH and his family are polish immigrants. His family came here about 15 years ago, and live in a polish section of brooklyn. his brother and sister proudly claim their polish heritage, yet also have a side of them which yearns to be more americanized. SIL has 3 kids, all with very american names (no polish equivalent). She has been criticized by the family for not choosing a polish name.
Along comes me. I'm german/american. Mom is an immigrant, and dad was born here and grew up in a german part of queens. His family disliked me becuase I was 'american'... (also because I was german). The siblings (there's a lot of sibling rivalry and cattiness at the dinner table!) were always very quick to criticize DH for marrying a non-pole (all other IL's are polish), claiming it will be a completely americanized household (as if that's some horrible thing  ) and our kids will retain no culture from old europe.
Well, while I don't speak german, I can tell you, the german and polish culture thrive in our home... in every way possible. we're proud of our backgrounds!
Now comes time to name Scone.
Eryk Heinrich
BIL was critiquing the name choice. He said that Eryk (a nice solid polish name, that we chose becuase it will be pronounced correctly in the US and Germany) will be 'mispronounced' becuase Americans don't know how to pronounce the 'y' 
THEN MIL and BIL complained that Heinrich is a Nazi name  (Reality of the situation is that ANY male name that is germanic in origin could be called a 'nazi name'.... it's simply a racist statement I won't put up with.) (Remember, Germany invaded poland in WW2, so those are rather inflammatory words). Well, DH was quick to my defense, and said 'well, then our grandparents made a big mistake naming uncle Joseph after Stalin  . (mind you, I don't like these really base and mean conversations DH's family has, and I'm grateful they're all in polish... I could never say something like that, no matter how much someone is insulting me and my child)
The REAL reason I think this is happening is that from the start, DH's family has decided that I'm the outsider... the non-pole who would remove the culture from their family. The BILs are especially clinging to this idea, out of competition with DH.
Meanwhile, our child will be the ONLY child with a polish name. So that messes up their lovely stereotype of me, which they try to use against me when talking to my MIL and FIL.
Also BIL #2 wants children, and his wife doesn't becuase she doesn't want to be 'fat like I am right now'.... charmed, I'm sure  . So, he is likely envious that his younger brother will be a dad before him.
Sorry for the long familial vent. I know many of us get cr@p from the family for the names we choose. It's just my pile of stinky goodness also has an inflection of anti-americanism and anti-germanism, and frankly, when I'm bloated and uncomfy like this, I have a reduced tolerance for the BS.
Message edited 9/17/2008 2:21:30 PM.
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Posted 9/17/08 1:29 PM  |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:30 PM |
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pickles16
Real Estate Professional
Member since 11/07 17227 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Posted by Mikismom
eric
I was thinking the same...
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:31 PM |
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Marcie
Complete Happiness :)
Member since 5/05 27789 total posts
Name:
LOVE being a Mommy!
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Posted by Mikismom
eric
yep - what she said 
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:31 PM |
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Akajt98
Sooo Excited
Member since 6/06 2252 total posts
Name:
Jill
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Posted by Marcie
Posted by Mikismom
eric
yep - what she said
ITA - Eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:32 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:35 PM |
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WilliesWife
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/07 644 total posts
Name:
Dena
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
me too........eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:45 PM |
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mamabear
LIF Adult
Member since 3/08 4539 total posts
Name:
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:46 PM |
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JennZ
MY LIFE!!
Member since 8/05 25463 total posts
Name:
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:48 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:56 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: please be honest... how would you pronounce this?
Eric
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| Posted 9/17/08 1:58 PM |
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wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!
Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name:
aka marriedinportjeff
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Re: update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
bump for update....
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| Posted 9/17/08 2:19 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
Well, I would pronounce it Erik. I am sorry your IL's are giving you such a hard time, but I am sure they will get over it.
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| Posted 9/17/08 2:20 PM |
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NoahsArkTummy
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/07 839 total posts
Name:
CAMILLE
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Re: update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
do what i chose to do....i avoid in laws at all costs...they aren't a close knit family really and almost disowned Rob when he chose to get engaged to a puerto rican italian like me.....i dont even speak spanish!!theres deeper more personal roots as to why we dont get along but at the end of the day.....they threw away there son...and id say i won!!! hesa AMAZING!... as far as the SIL..id tell her..oh no sweetie..you got "WAY FATTER THAN I AM"...LOL..
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| Posted 9/17/08 2:26 PM |
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leighdvm
My golden boys!
Member since 3/06 4419 total posts
Name:
Michele
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Re: update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
What horrible things your ILs say!!!!! How insulting!!!! I'm glad your DH stood up to them with that Stalin comment!
Bottom line -- the decision of what to name your child lies with YOU and DH.....NO ONE ELSE!!!!!!
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| Posted 9/17/08 2:28 PM |
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hmm8191
My loves
Member since 3/06 2908 total posts
Name:
Heather
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Re: update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
Ugh....I'm sorry!! 
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| Posted 9/17/08 2:30 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: update: pronouncing Eryk... In-law rants and criticisms
Posted by wannabemom
The REAL reason I think this is happening is that from the start, DH's family has decided that I'm the outsider... the non-pole who would remove the culture from their family.
I think you hit the nail on the head, and no matter what name you chose they will find something wrong with it
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| Posted 9/17/08 2:34 PM |
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