# I'm starting to confuse Corva Coleman and Laxmi Singh on NPR **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765 "2009-06-14T21:52:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/21 "2009-06-16T03:22:06Z")
I know we just did this topic not too long ago, but I am too lazy to look it – and the spelling of my other major NPR annoying announcer – up. That would be Jackie (Jacquie? Jaqi?) Lyden. ::Shudders:: I also can’t stand Joanne Silberner, for the reasons previously stated. Daniel Schorr does need to retire. I haven’t recently heard him referring to Russia as the Soviet Union, but he has done it in the past. There’s another public radio person that drives me nuts. She’s a writer – more likely to be on “This American Life” or something. She wrote a book about planning a vacation to visit cemeteries and other sites associated with death and tragedy (I think). I love her writing. I can’t stand to hear her read it. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/22 "2009-06-16T03:22:44Z")
> [@susan\_foster](#): > > I am totally in love with Kai Ryssdal’s voice. The guy who subs for him isn’t bad either – Joe Palka (sp?). Are there **any** NPR folks with common names, or names spelled/pronounced in common ways? Joanne Silburner’s voice is almost identical to a woman (I think she’s a veterinarian) on the local NPR station. I want to hand them both a hanky and say “Blow” or “Spit”. My favorite is Nina Totenberg. Not just her voice, but her delivery, enunciation, clarity of thought. She does a great job breaking stuff down so I can understand it. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/23 "2009-06-16T03:23:56Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > There’s another public radio person that drives me nuts. She’s a writer – more likely to be on “This American Life” or something. She wrote a book about planning a vacation to visit cemeteries and other sites associated with death and tragedy (I think). I love her writing. I can’t stand to hear her read it. Sarah Vowell? (Assassination Vacation) Yeah, she’s nasal. Funny though. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/24 "2009-06-16T03:26:16Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > My favorite is Nina Totenberg. Not just her voice, but her delivery, enunciation, clarity of thought. She does a great job breaking stuff down so I can understand it. I love her, too. The way she reads from a Supreme Court transcript and manages to make it just shy of a dramatic reading is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/25 "2009-06-16T03:31:24Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > There’s another public radio person that drives me nuts. She’s a writer – more likely to be on “This American Life” or something. She wrote a book about planning a vacation to visit cemeteries and other sites associated with death and tragedy (I think). I love her writing. I can’t stand to hear her read it. [Sarah Vowell](http://www.amazon.com/Assassination-Vacation-Sarah-Vowell/dp/074326004X). Her voice is death. I saw her on Conan once and I thought she was the voice of Lisa Simpson. > [@freckafree](#): > > I also can’t stand Joanne Silberner, for the reasons previously stated. It’s weird to see their names spelled out. For some reason, I always hear her name as Jo-ansil Burner. They really do have some very interesting names. If it wasn’t public radio, I’d swear some of these are pseudonyms. ETA: Scooped by Auntie Pam! ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/26 "2009-06-16T03:33:05Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Sarah Vowell? (Assassination Vacation) Yeah, she’s nasal. Funny though. Yes, thank you! Indeed, the book was \* Assassination Vacation\*. I read the Wiki article on her, and the other thing I remember is her reading from her work about the Trail of Tears. She is a very talented and compelling and funny writer. Not so much as a reader. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/27 "2009-06-16T03:36:07Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > It’s weird to see their names spelled out. For some reason, I always hear her name as Jo-ansil Burner. They really do have some very interesting names. If it wasn’t public radio, I’d swear some of these are pseudonyms. I was certainly astonished to learn that it’s Snigdha Prakash, not Snick Paprikash. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/28 "2009-06-16T03:41:49Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > I also can’t stand Joanne Silberner, for the reasons previously stated. Count me as another who hates hearing her voice… Interesting thread, seeing the names spelled out of people who I spend so much time listening to. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/29 "2009-06-16T03:54:07Z")
I also like the occasional Wade Goodwyn story from Houston. It would be too much to listen to the Texas twang for a whole half-hour, but in five-minute intervals it’s quite refreshing. Although, I admit, that in my mind’s eye he looks like Dr. Phil. I had no idea that Melissa Block is married to Stefan Fatsis. She’s another one who looks nothing like I imagined her. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/30 "2009-06-16T04:02:38Z")
:smack: I confused Kai Ryssdall (the money guy) with Ira Flatow (the science guy) when I mentioned Joe Palka as his fill-in. I like Neal Conan’s voice, and the way he handles Talk of the Nation. He’s rarely flustered, and always seems full of enthusiasm for whatever the subject is. Sometimes you can almost see him rolling his eyes at some of the comments, but he hides it well. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/31 "2009-06-16T04:20:04Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I have only one thing to say- > > Corva is either Yiddish/Hebrew/or possibly both for “whore”. And “kurva” is the Russian/Polish/Serbian word for whore, so depending on how ambiguously you say it, you’ll cover a wide range of insults 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/32 "2009-06-16T07:53:41Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > And “kurva” is the Russian/Polish/Serbian word for whore, so depending on how ambiguously you say it, you’ll cover a wide range of insults 😉 Add Hungarian to the list. ---
**Author:** ![Pazu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pazu/32/15522_2.png) [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/33 "2009-06-16T16:14:20Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > It’s weird to see their names spelled out. For some reason, I always hear her name as Jo-ansil Burner. They really do have some very interesting names. If it wasn’t public radio, I’d swear some of these are pseudonyms. Because of the reaction her voice induces in me, I always heard it as “Joanne Soul-burner”. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/34 "2009-06-16T16:57:34Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > [Sarah Vowell](http://www.amazon.com/Assassination-Vacation-Sarah-Vowell/dp/074326004X). Her voice is death. I saw her on Conan once and I thought she was the voice of Lisa Simpson. Well, she was the voice of Violet Parr in the movie The Incredibles… ---
**Author:** ![Zenfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e95f7d/32.png) [@Zenfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenfool)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/35 "2009-10-06T21:24:45Z")
Wow, I could not believe there exists an actual forum for people who are sensitive to NPR radio host’s voices. I have 2 that drive me CRAZY! This Nina Totenberg (I don’t care if i spelled her name wrong)…What is up with her having to punctuate almost every other sentence with that squeaky trill. Like she just saw a mouse or something! Talk about annoying! The funny thing is she has a nice voice and she seems nice. I wish she would get rid of that trill. I won’t even start on Peter Overbee (I **really** don’t care if I spelled this lisping idiot’s name wrong…). I feel better now I have vented. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/36 "2009-10-06T22:00:34Z")
I thought Corva Coleman’s name was “Cora Vakolman”. And I think Laxmi Singh is pretty darn nasal herself. When she comes on, I chime in (nasally) on " . . . I’m Laxmi Singh." But I don’t mix 'em up; I think Laxmi s nasally-er. (Nasal-er?) ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/37 "2009-10-06T22:08:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You beat me to it, but thanks! > > I am irritated by the adenoidal voices of the guys who do _Science Friday_ and _This American Life._ Someone on the 'Dope once pointed out that he does the show in the basement of his Mother’s house. She asks, “It’s time for dinner, Dear. Will your little radio friends be staying?” > 🙂 How can anyone not like Ira Glass? I could listen to his show for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/38 "2009-10-06T22:13:21Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Funny, they don’t look much alike. > > [Lakshmi Singh](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101212) > > [Korva Coleman](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4170557) Wow. Lakshmi Singh looks completely different than I expected, probably because I used to date someone named Laxmi. I know, I know, different name, but I always get a mental image of my old girlfriend when Lakshmi Singh reports. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/39 "2009-10-06T22:24:36Z")
Damn, Lakshmi is not at all bad-looking… I do get a bit of a kick from the way they say their names on the air; “Cooooorva Coleman” and “Loch-shmee Singh” And of course “Sylvia Pogooooooli” ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765/40 "2009-10-06T22:25:22Z")
The NPR correspondent I like for the shallowest reason imaginable is Dwahlee Saikowtow (sp?). I just love her name, and that she sounds as though her name should be Susan Smith. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-starting-to-confuse-corva-coleman-and-laxmi-singh-on-npr/499765.md?page=3)