'Ohana!!!!!!!! not O'Hana's!!

[bunnyfoo]

I had no idea! I will be more careful in the future

 

[zagafi]

Yes, it bugs me. But then again, I'm one of those anal-retentive English teachers! LOL!!

Any instance of poor grammar, spelling, or mechanics is enough to make my red pen twitch.

 

[erikthewise]

Yes I also have the affliction of seeing misspelled words and finding them irritating. I think it comes from learning how to read before being corrupted by phonics. (I even think Ann and Anne are completely different names.)

But perhaps someone knowledgeable can explain why there is an apostrophe in 'Ohana. Isn't that unusual in Hawaiian? And what does the apostrophe represent?

 

[Misti]

Originally posted by erikthewise
But perhaps someone knowledgeable can explain why there is an apostrophe in 'Ohana. Isn't that unusual in Hawaiian? And what does the apostrophe represent?

' is called the 'okina or glottal stop. It gives a "hard edge" to a vowel or a stop/start between vowels. Kind of like Hawaii is really Hawai'i (actually pronounced Hawai-ee). Most people just call it Hawaii (one long flow in the word rather than a stop between i and 'i).

Aloha

 

[Harambe]

That's really cool! I didn't know that. As much as I love WDW, I love Hawaii more. Can NOT get DH to fly there from Boston. It's too much for me to ask of him. He hates to fly.

 

[CamColt]

Well, since I dont put apostrophes in at all when I type here, I guess I get it wrong all the time too....along with a lot of other things. So whats worse, Ohana or O'Hanas?

I have to admit though...when people say "preggers" here that drives me bezerk!!! Hate it! Like pregnant is bad word and they cant say it.

 

[taylor1293]

Nope, doesn't bother me at all. I could care less how people spell it.

There are about a million other things in life to focus on instead of where someone's apostrophe was placed .

Teresa

 

[UKDEB]

Yes I also have the affliction of seeing misspelled words

Me too. It's not the misspeller I find irritating, but that the words seem to fly out of the page and hit me. A terrible affliction indeed! Maybe I should be a proof reader.

Another thing which 'irritates' me, BrianD, is excessive use of exclamation marks (or exclamation points as I think you call them in the US). I was taught that one should be very selective in their use and that more than one is incorrect. Like you, I prefer things to be 'right', so thought you might appreciate the feedback.

 

[Penny12]

I do'nt kare how it'z spelled has long has they still fill me wiv Shrimp

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Misti
' is called the 'okina or glottal stop. It gives a "hard edge" to a vowel or a stop/start between vowels. Kind of like Hawaii is really Hawai'i (actually pronounced Hawai-ee). Most people just call it Hawaii (one long flow in the word rather than a stop between i and 'i).

Aloha

Interesting. Does that mean we're not pronouncing correctly either?

 

[Laura]

Ya know, it bugs me sometimes too but only when I read people's posts saying how much they loved "O'Hanna's". It's also kinda funny. But then, it's usually a while after they've been there that they posted so they probably don't remember how it was spelled. Since it isn't an English word I can't expect people to automatically know how to spell it.

What bugs me more is when people put apostrophes on plural nouns. Like "My son's are identical twin's." instead of "My sons are identical twins."

 

[Taryn]

I can't say these errors drive me nuts... but I will admit to being distracted by the errors and perhaps not fully appreciating the rest of the post as a result.

I do notice the ‘Ohana posts… but I think what I notice most is when people turn a restaurant name into a possessive. Trust me, I am not an expert in grammar but again this distracts me. Saying “I am going to Jiko’s” is not unlike saying I am going to “cafeteria’s for lunch”. Please correct me if I am wrong. It is very possible!

The one that always gets me is when I hear “roast beef with au jus”. The phrase “au jus” translated means “with the juice”. Many menus even make this error. They are therefore stating that something is served “with with” the juice.

Not judging here, it is not English, just admitting that it distracts me. Please correct me if I am wrong. I want to learn.

Hmmmm, it seems I am easily distracted!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I actually think some restaurants are 'possessive'. I don't have my little book handy, but Shula's comes to mind.

 

[BCV23]

Yep, it's Shula's, Narcoossee's, and Citricos (no apostrophe but plural). Spelling and apostrophes on restaurant names don't bother me at all but it's instead of its, there in place of their, etc. do jump out at me.

 

[Misti]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
Interesting. Does that mean we're not pronouncing correctly either?

I wasn't correcting anyone--just offering info/trivia behind the ' mentioned.

 

[Taryn]

I can totally accept Shula's... this is Don Shula's restaurant. Makes sense to me.

I have trouble with references such as Boma's as a possessive though. My understanding is that a “Boma” refers to a Kraal-style fence made of sticks, and is an open and natural space which provides a safe and sheltered area in the bush.

I cannot find the justification for a possessive there or for Jiko. Jiko means “cooking place” in Swahili, so when we say Jiko’s we are really saying that we are going to the “cooking place’s.

I swear, I am not really nuts and am not a nit-picker… they just stand out for me! *smiles*

 

[DaveH]

When you talk about the menu, do you add the 's?

 

[Taryn]

I can understand adding the 's to the menu since the menu belongs to Jiko.

I can't believe it got myself into this, admittedly my grammar background is lacking. I promise this is not a "nose in the air" debate on my part. *laugh* I would have no right to do that!

It is interesting to ponder the difference between formal grammar and socially acceptable grammar also. Regional differences are a neat thing to explore too.

This is fun, keep them coming...

Thanks!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I guess we must first know which restaurants were named after someone. I guess that would indicate a possessive.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Misti
I wasn't correcting anyone--just offering info/trivia behind the ' mentioned.

Hi, Misti. Please don't take my post the wrong way. I was honestly wondering if we are pronouncing the name correctly, or if there is a more authentic way to pronounce it.