How is it pronounced: EYE-zik or eye-ZAK Hayes?

Cafe Society
1

Nightline just did a segment about the departure of Isaac Hayes from South Park. Chris Burrie (?sp), the reporter, pronounced Mr. Hayes’ first name – emphatically – as “eye-ZAK.” Each syllable was crisp and separate, and the accent was on the “ZAK,” not the “eye.”

Now, I’ve always heard the name pronounced EYE-zik, with the accent on the “EYE,” and the “zik” following so close behind that it’s really more like EYES-ik.

So, does Mr. Hayes have a unique, preferred pronunciation of his first name? Or did Mr. Burrie get it wrong? Or is that the right way all Isaacs should pronounce their names and we’ve all been doing it wrong all these years?

2

I’ve only ever heard it EYE-zik.

3

It’s Ira Hayes. :wink:

4

eye-ZAK haze? are you sure? that just sounds retarded.

You sure it wasn’t EYE-ZAK HAZE–equal emphasis? I can’t imagine putting more emphasis on the second syllable than the first.

5

Well, he pronounced it almost as if it were two words. Each syllable was fully formed. If I’m exaggerating, and the “ZAK” was not accented, it was at least *as strong * as the “eye.”

Actually, I found the pronounciation kind of cool.