I used the Netscape search engine to log onto what I thought was a website that would answer a question–which I even brought up in an earlier thread on the SDMB–about how to pronounce the family name of the Pakistani convenience store operator, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
Is it na-ha-sah-pee-mah-peh-TEE-lohn?
The “Apu” website I logged onto didn’t answer this question for me. Have any Dopers heard Azaria pronounce this name? Thanks very much.
Very close. I’ve always heard it pronounced,
na-ha-sah-pee-mah-PEH-teh-lohn.
Hey look. I helped. 
Na-HA-sa-PEE-ma-PET-i(short ‘i’)-lon. Very iambic. At least, that’s how I’ve heard Hank Azara say it.
I think I’ve heard it pronounced by one of the characters as:
Na (as in ‘naw’)
ha (as in ‘haw’)
suh (As in ‘sustenance’)
peema (It sounds like it reads.)
petilon (it runs together quickly. If you say it fast, it might sound like ‘Pet-lon’)
Naw-haw-suh-peema-petilon
I think it was one of Marge’s sisters who pronounced it that way. I’m not sure. I suppose anyone out there could correct me.
I was raised on the simpsons, and everyone’s got the right sounds, but only Gundy got the accents.
This is uncanny. I was just thinking about this very same question earlier today.
Thanks to all. 
Apu’s name reminded me of that guy from the L. A. County Coroner’s office, in the O. J. Simpson criminal trial, for whom a special ruling had to be made by Judge Ito so people wouldn’t have to pronounce his long name (rendered by Scott Beach as Laksmannan).
That’s A-zay-rhee-ahh.
Or maybe A-zahh-rhee-ahh
schwa-ZARE-ee-SCHWA
jb
Here, dougie, you can hear Apu say it himself on this Simpson page. (Scroll down to “Sounds” and click on Apu’s name).
Did he say “It is a great insult to my ancestors - but okay!”?
Just to be obnoxious, I’ll point out that Apu is Indian, AFAIK. Pakistanis are generally (or maybe always) Moslem, and Indians are Hindi. Several allusions are made to Apu’s Hindu background, so I’m pretty sure he’s Indian.
[Chief Wiggum]
Homer Simpson, you’re under arrest for the murders of Moe Szylak and Aup Nahasa…pasa…awwwwww, Moe. Just Moe.
[/Chief Wiggum]
Or how about “Apu”? That’s a bit better, without typos…
:rolleyes:
Nitpick:
I believe Moe’s last name is spelled Scyzlak.
And yes, Apu is Indian. Most definitely not Pakistani. That’s Babhu, from Seinfeld.
Why is it that…
In the “Marge is a cop” episode, Homer brags to his poker buddies that he can do background checks, and refers to Mo the bartender as Momar(sp?)- while in the “Cheers” parody episode, the Shelly Long character refers to Mo as Maurice?
What is Mo’s real name?
Neither, or maybe one of them. This is why Simpsons fandom is often a creepy weird area to get into. Both were written as jokes (especially Momar). It’s only because the Simpsons has become so firmly entrenched as an establishment that this kind of continuity becomes a problem.
BTW, I am not saying the problem is with the fans. Hell, You always look for continuity and the like in something you like. The problem is the stifling effect said entrenchment emboldens.
jb
According to The Official Simpsons Handbook, Moe’s name is “Moe Szyslak”, without refernce as to what “Moe” is short for. Might be Maurice, might be Moammar. Consider this, though: in the Brad Goodman “Do As You Feel Day” episode, it is revealed that in his youth, Moe spoke with a thick Italian accent. This does no seem to jibe with his rather Slavic/Eastern european last name.
Mysteries upon mysteries…
embiggens.
–Tim