Online Names

I'm just going to explain my screen-name and ask a question. Warning: this sort of turned into a rant. Post anything related to this topic. Your own online name issues, etc. I feel like this should go somewhere between 'The Lounge' and 'Senseless Banter', that it doesn't quite fit into either.

I've sort of taken this name as my 'official' online alias, after switching from name to name which I dislike: dark_angel6, 6_puma_6, lynxi... Dianeva is just a good solid name that I can hopefully stick with. I like the sound of it (I like names that start with 'D'), it's original, and it doesn't sound too far-off from a real name. Maybe a bit fantasy-ish but I like that.

Another reason I like the name Dianeva is that it's obvious how to pronounce it. I won't have to endure that frustrating thing I do in real life ('Alissa? Aleesa? Alisha?')... or so I thought. I've been playing Left 4 Dead 2 recently, which is basically an online zombie-killing game, and most people have comp mics.

I thought it was obvious how to pronounce the name Dianeva, but since playing that game, I've noticed everyone is confused about how to pronounce it.

So I have two questions. First, how do you pronounce the name Dianeva? Second, how come everyone seems to pronounce the first syllable 'di' like 'dee'? Is there any other word in the English language that starts with 'di' and is pronounced 'dee'? I can think of plenty of counterexamples which show it should be pronounced 'di' as in singular 'dice': 'dialysis', 'diagram', 'diameter', 'diet', the name 'diane'. I'm starting to think I'll have to come up with a whole new online alias now - when I thought I had finally found the perfect one.

1. Die-an-eevuh
2. I dunno. Why do the brits pronounce the word "idea" with an r at the end? Idear isn't a word, damnit!

I've got a network of user names...none of them my actual name. They range from login variations to completely different names. I chose Mario because of the fat plumber in red overalls. It's my dream-related alias. I've got others, adapted to different sites, and all designed to make me as untraceable as possible.

Stormcrow as in gandalf stormcrow mutha fuckas. Also stormcrow is the name of a rad crust/doom band from Oakland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt13o6CGOss

I'd pronounce it "Die-an-eva" (with the "e" sounding like "ever" or "heaven") or "Die-an-eeva" (long "e" like in "eat"). I definitely wouldn't say "Dee". *shrug*

I kind of switched back and forth between Die-ah-neh-va and Dee-ah-neh-va.

In a strictly-English context, it's not so much "EE" as in "DEstroy" or "DEregulate," but more of the short I sound: Nick, Rick, Dick, Jill, Bill, Kris, etc.

But you also have to remember that not every word/name on the internet is English. In most languages, Di actually would produce a "Dee" sound, and the word (being fabricated, as it is) doesn't really come across as English, in the first place. So, when I see it, the very first thing that comes to my mind is Dee-ah-neh-va.

[Edit]
Also: Everyone hates my name because nobody knows how to say it correctly, so I feel your pain. Lol. It seems to have different interpretations, depending on who's saying it. I know it as either O-Nigh-Ro-Not or ONE-I-Ro-Not. The two are pretty much interchangeable, to me. But I could name about 3 other pronunciations I've heard, over the years. :chuckle:

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

Also: Everyone hates my name because nobody knows how to say it correctly, so I feel your pain. Lol. It seems to have different interpretations, depending on who's saying it. I know it as either O-Nigh-Ro-Not or ONE-I-Ro-Not. The two are pretty much interchangeable, to me. But I could name about 3 other pronunciations I've heard, over the years. :chuckle:

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Hm, I thought it was O-NEY-RO-NOT.

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Originally Posted by rainwatercoyote

I'd pronounce it "Die-an-eva" (with the "e" sounding like "ever" or "heaven")

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^ That's how I pronounce it. However, I always thought you picked it because your name was Diane and you lived in Vancouver (since you're in BC).

As for my user name, it's the same as my real name. I always use it for my user ID on websites.

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

I kind of switched back and forth between Die-ah-neh-va and Dee-ah-neh-va.

In a strictly-English context, it's not so much "EE" as in "DEstroy" or "DEregulate," but more of the short I sound: Nick, Rick, Dick, Jill, Bill, Kris, etc.

But you also have to remember that not every word/name on the internet is English. In most languages, Di actually would produce a "Dee" sound, and the word (being fabricated, as it is) doesn't really come across as English, in the first place. So, when I see it, the very first thing that comes to my mind is Dee-ah-neh-va.

[Edit]
Also: Everyone hates my name because nobody knows how to say it correctly, so I feel your pain. Lol. It seems to have different interpretations, depending on who's saying it. I know it as either O-Nigh-Ro-Not or ONE-I-Ro-Not. The two are pretty much interchangeable, to me. But I could name about 3 other pronunciations I've heard, over the years. :chuckle:

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Thanks, you're probably right about it not sounding like an English name. I guess that never occurred to me since I'm used to fantasy novels with characters with weird names (this is actually an altered version of a name I liked from a fantasy novel, 'Dianora').

I've had no idea how to pronounce Oneironaut. I keep reminding myself to look up the pronounciation next time I'm at a computer then forget to. I guess I've been pronouncing it one-iron-ought, exactly how those 3 words are pronounced normally. I've never thought it might actually be pronounced like that. It was more a way to memorize the spelling. The word 'one', the word 'iron', and 'aut'.

EDIT: And Dianeva I pronounce (and thought everyone would) Die - an - eh - vuh. My biggest mistake was the 'eh' part, I see how that looks like it should be 'ee'. Too many problems with this screenname: pronounciation issues and people assuming I come from some non-English family background (not that it would be bad if I was, I'd just prefer that anything false about me not be assumed). I guess my search for the perfect screenname continues and I'll have to pay that 1400 points or whatever it is when I find it.

^ That's why it's best to go with your real name to avoid confusion. Unless of course, you're name's something like Alecia. :P

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Originally Posted by GavinGill

^ That's why it's best to go with your real name to avoid confusion. Unless of course, you're name's something like Alecia. :P

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I'm bored by generic real names.
My real name is Alyssa. It's pronounced A-lee-sa. People pronounce it A-li-sa. It gets infuriating. I'm so used to hearing teachers, coworkers, etc. call me Alissa that my ears perk up at that name about as much as they do to my real name. Maybe I should just officially change the spelling of my name to Aleesa.
But yeah, even that would be too generic.
Being generic is also bad for an online name because while registering accounts for popular games or websites, any generic name will already be taken, and I hate having numbers at the end. It would just be nice to have one good name to use everywhere online. Maybe I should just stay with this one.

When I pay attention, I pronounce you name as a first an and middle: Diane Eva. But my first "instinct" is Din-Eva.

I now tend to pronounce Oneironaut as Ah-nur-not lol

I love my own alias. The "Zh" make the sound of a French "J", so my name's "J"ay-Lynn
I use it everywhere online and I'm very possessive of it lol
I used to be Xyleisha (zye-lay-shah). Before that I've also used AprilD (my first name's April, middle name's Dawn) and NeAmberina (for New England Amberina)
Side names (for duplicate accounts) are Zhaymis, Cylontrianna and Mimosa Waters :)

And yeah, I too would pronounce your name as A-lis-sa until I learned otherwise. It's very pretty.

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Originally Posted by Invader

Hm, I thought it was O-NEY-RO-NOT.

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I originally got the word from Waking Life. The thing was: after I heard it, I looked it up later on, then I got used to the spelling but forgot how the guy pronounced it. So, even though it was my own name, I pronounced it "Oh-Nee-Ro-Not" for the longest time. But then when I started learning medical terminology - which focuses heavily on Greek and Latin word forms, I came to pronounce the "Oneir-" part like THIS. The "-naut" was always pretty simple.

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Originally Posted by Dianeva

Thanks, you're probably right about it not sounding like an English name. I guess that never occurred to me since I'm used to fantasy novels with characters with weird names.

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What's funny about a lot of Grammar Nazis is that most of them completely forget that English may not be the first language of the people they are talking to. (Not saying that you are one, at all. It's just a related tangent.) They put so much energy into jumping up and screaming "YOUR GRAMMAR SUCKS!" (usually as an unconscious attempt to feel better about themselves - as opposed to working toward some greater humanitarian good, which is what they will constantly profess) that they tend to forget these people might only know broken English. I always find it hilarious when that turns out to be the actual case. Then my response to them is usually:

"Yeah, and how many languages do you speak? Just one? Alright, then. Shut the fuck up."

Lol.

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Originally Posted by Dianeva

I've had no idea how to pronounce Oneironaut. I keep reminding myself to look up the pronounciation next time I'm at a computer then forget to. I guess I've been pronouncing it one-iron-ought, exactly how those 3 words are pronounced normally. I've never thought it might actually be pronounced like that. It was more a way to memorize the spelling. The word 'one', the word 'iron', and 'aut'.

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Yeah, that's pretty much how I pronounce it now, too.

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Originally Posted by Dianeva

I guess my search for the perfect screenname continues and I'll have to pay that 1400 points or whatever it is when I find it.

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Just remember: Any word or name you pick cannot possibly be interpreted in the same way, universally. Like I said, not everyone speaks English, so not everyone interprets words in the same way. Words are always going to have different pronunciations, in different regions. Even if it's something as simple as "Dog." In English-speaking countries, we say "Dahg." Someone from a Latin country would say "Doag," because O's always carry a "long O" sound, in their language. Even the ones that do speak English as a second language, still tend to fall into the same letter sounds as in their native languages. We call these 'accents.' :wink:

Can't please everyone! :D

Before reading this thread I thought it was pronounced DIE-EH-NEVA.

By the way, that is a badass sounding name Oneironaut. I had been pronouncing it in my head like "one iron knot", because it helps me spell it better :P

i pronounced it Die-ah-nee-va. :\

and I thought it was oh-nay-ro-naut.

none of those are as bad as my beatboxing alias... Adiao. nobody can pronounce that. unfortunately it seems like i'm stuck with it, because most people know me by that already.

on my other internet names.. i've had many. i'm not entirely sure why i never stuck with only one name, but it's probably because i'm never happy with the names i come up with. I'm horrible at names. i wish i could come up with something as good and solid as Dianeva. some of my aliases include: Y-Dragon (which I consistently used for my earliest internet endeavors), Shiny Loser, AlebeskaGenius (Alebeska is a nickname from school), Adiao, EnigmaEvocative, Xela Steele, SlimAyDee, and NoctemConArtist.

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Originally Posted by Zhaylin

I love my own alias. The "Zh" make the sound of a French "J", so my name's "J"ay-Lynn
I use it everywhere online and I'm very possessive of it lol
I used to be Xyleisha (zye-lay-shah). Before that I've also used AprilD (my first name's April, middle name's Dawn) and NeAmberina (for New England Amberina)
Side names (for duplicate accounts) are Zhaymis, Cylontrianna and Mimosa Waters :)

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I haven't ever tried to sound out your name, but I think I've been pronouncing it in my head like the instrument 'violin' with a 'z'. I've memorized the pronounciation. Where did you get the name? Is it a real French name or did you completely make it up?

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Originally Posted by Raphael

Before reading this thread I thought it was pronounced DIE-EH-NEVA.

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That is how it's pronounced, unless you're pronouncing 'neva' as 'neeva'.

I do like the name, I just don't like the fact that it puts people through confusion.
I'm trying to think how I could spell it to make people not say the 'eva' part like 'eeva' and I can't think of a way.

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Originally Posted by GavinGill

As for my user name, it's the same as my real name. I always use it for my user ID on websites.

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I might use my real name if I liked my last name and if I didn't fear someone who knows of me in person recognizing the name and knowing it's me.

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Originally Posted by GavinGill

^ That's how I pronounce it. However, I always thought you picked it because your name was Diane and you lived in Vancouver (since you're in BC).

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Nice guess, that would make sense. (Aside: I think I just decided maybe I'll start spelling it Dieneva so no one assumes I'm Diane, I don't like that name.) Incidentally I do live in Vancouver.

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Originally Posted by Oneironaut

"Yeah, and how many languages do you speak? Just one? Alright, then. Shut the fuck up."

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I'm always impressed with people who speak more than one language and it doesn't seem people who move here and learn English later in life are given enough credit. Even they don't seem to give themselves credit, I guess because everyone is expected to learn it. But a native English speaker who learns, let's say, Spanish later in life (as I'm trying to do), is given much more credit and looked up to for being bilingual. It doesn't really seem fair, especially since English is supposed to be harder to learn.
EDIT: On second thought, I guess it is easier to learn a language when you're immersed in a society that speaks it. In the non-touristy cities in Costa Rica I went to, no one seemed very impressed that I had a bit of Spanish knowledge. But they were probably a bit more impressed than someone here would be with a Chinese person who knows some English.

I completely made up the name. I discovered the "zh" sound combo late in life. My youngest daughter is named Zee'Arra Junell. Many people say it as "June-el". Then I watched Dr. Zhivago (I believe it was) and I heard the "J" sound I love so much. A sound I'm rather obsessed with lol.
I love making up names.
I made up Xyleisha for a Neopets pet and I loved it so much that I adopted it:)

I pronounced it as Dya-nee-va

My online name is simple: I am an expert when it comes to pokemon, but when it comes to warcraft 3, I suck. But that's the twist, I named myself weakamon so that people will go easy on me(because they think I'm weak). Because of their overconfidence, I often win. Pretty ironic.

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Originally Posted by Mario92

2. I dunno. Why do the brits pronounce the word "idea" with an r at the end? Idear isn't a word, damnit!

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Which brits?

Not many brits. We've got more accents crammed into our little island nation than there are in all America, there's going to be variance.

Why do Americans pronounce route as rout?

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Originally Posted by Siиdяed

Which brits?

Not many brits. We've got more accents crammed into our little island nation than there are in all America, there's going to be variance.

Why do Americans pronounce route as rout?

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I say "root" and I'm American. Or was that your point? That there is variation?

On the Dianeva subject, I was unsure but thought it was probably like "Die-eh-nEE-vah". Although, sorry Dianeva, "Dee-eh-nEE-vah" actually rolls off the tongue better for me. I can't see why it's such a huge problem if people see it differently. I guess you are probably sensitive to it because of having the same problem with your real name. Incidentally, I would think it was Alissa as well.

As for my screen name, a perlin is a hybrid between a merlin and a peregrine falcon. I had one years ago when I came up with the screen name.

If I really get curious about pronunciation, I simply let several of voice synths speak the word and listen.

In fact, I modified a text to speech program that will cycle through all the voices on a machine speaking the same text. I use it for auditioning when I make audio books. Some voices make certain kinds of mistakes with certain text.

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Originally Posted by Perlinfalcon

On the Dianeva subject, I was unsure but thought it was probably like "Die-eh-nEE-vah". Although, sorry Dianeva, "Dee-eh-nEE-vah" actually rolls off the tongue better for me. I can't see why it's such a huge problem if people see it differently. I guess you are probably sensitive to it because of having the same problem with your real name. Incidentally, I would think it was Alissa as well.

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But doesn't die-an-eh-vah roll off the tongue better than either of those?
It doesn't bother me much here. It bothers me in the online game I've been playing in which you often have to say people's screennames quickly to warn them about something, and when people try to say mine they stumble: "dee.. die .. dee en ee vah" and they then appologize for likely getting it wrong. It isn't even that it annoys me, I most juts feel bad for people having to deal with it.

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Originally Posted by Siиdяed

Why do Americans pronounce route as rout?

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Because a root is a starchy tuber.