# NPR correspondent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413 "2009-11-13T04:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/1 "2009-11-13T04:53:32Z")
What is the name of the NPR correspondent whose name sounds like ‘Duwahili Sykautau’? ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/2 "2009-11-13T05:06:27Z")
Her name is [Doualy Xaykaothao](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102828890). That’s a new one for the list of unusual names. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/3 "2009-11-13T05:08:41Z")
Wow. No wonder I couldn’t find it! Now… Off to look up Cloudy O’Sanchez. 😉 ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/4 "2009-11-13T06:02:43Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Her name is [Doualy Xaykaothao](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102828890). > > That’s a new one for the list of unusual names. Hah! So that’s how she spells it! It’s shallow, I know, but I always listen to her reports hoping to get a feel for how she spells her name based on how she pronounces it. She says “Dwah-Lee”, and she aspirates the ‘h’, so I’m not clear how one gets Doualy from that. Oh well. Doualy’s voice has an easy tone and delivery I could listen to all day, much better than another NPR correspondent of Asian descent, Luisa - I twy, but I can’t pwonounce my Ahs - Lim. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/5 "2009-11-13T06:11:19Z")
Correction - It’s actually Louisa - Bwitish Constabulawy - Lim, not Luisa. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/6 "2009-11-13T13:23:38Z")
That’s a cool name, but the name I love is [Ofeibea Quist-Arcton](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4513318) - it just sounds so exotic and cool, especially when she ends her piece with her name and “Dakar” - but she says it all dramatic “da-Kaaaahhhh” And I have a huge crush on [Sylvia Poggioli](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101034), based on her voice alone. She means business - she has that Christiane Amanpour “I have forgotten more about journalism than you will ever remember” kind of authority in her reporting… ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/7 "2009-11-13T13:27:53Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Now… Off to look up Cloudy O’Sanchez. 😉 I just about busted a gut - thanks. (Tuesday I was wondering how to address my neighbor Claudia - who is from Nicaragua. Do I just anglicize it, or go for it and try to pronounce it as she does, and risk sounding like a really white idiot?) ---
**Author:** ![tilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@tilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tilde)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/8 "2009-11-13T14:20:22Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I just about busted a gut - thanks. > > (Tuesday I was wondering how to address my neighbor Claudia - who is from Nicaragua. Do I just anglicize it, or go for it and try to pronounce it as she does, and risk sounding like a really white idiot?) Ask her what she prefers; have her help you work through the pronunciation slowly. But a good phonetic approximation for you to practice, since you are aware of Cloudy O’Sanchez, is cl-ow-the-ah. The “DEE” is very subtle, almost a hard “THE”. ---
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/9 "2009-11-13T16:29:51Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > That’s a cool name, but the name I love is [Ofeibea Quist-Arcton](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4513318) - it just sounds so exotic and cool, especially when she ends her piece with her name and “Dakar” - but she says it all dramatic “da-Kaaaahhhh” Oh, I looooove her voice. I heard a bit recently where she was playing some board game with some little children - it was wonderful to hear her interact casually with them. Do you all get Marketplace? There’s a correspondent on there, her name sounds like Anna, or Hannah Jaffe Walsh. I can’t ever hear it right, so I can’t figure out how it’s spelled. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/10 "2009-11-13T16:48:38Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > And I have a huge crush on [Sylvia Poggioli](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101034), based on her voice alone. She means business - she has that Christiane Amanpour “I have forgotten more about journalism than you will ever remember” kind of authority in her reporting… Ah yes, she does most of their reports from Europe, doesn’t she? ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/11 "2009-11-13T16:49:24Z")
I’m always giggling at “Snick Paprikash” I’m not even sure I know what her name is… ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/12 "2009-11-13T19:33:26Z")
> [@Gesturing\_Mildly](#): > > Do you all get Marketplace? There’s a correspondent on there, her name sounds like Anna, or Hannah Jaffe Walsh. I can’t ever hear it right, so I can’t figure out how it’s spelled. You mean Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal? I swear they create these names in a laboratory. Anyway, you’re thinking of [Ina Jaffe](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100677), although I could have sworn she was Ina Jaffe-Walt or something like that. What I want to know is why Anthony Kuhn (the correspondent in China) pronounces his last name “Key-yoon.” It seems a bit of an affectation to me. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/13 "2009-11-13T19:42:07Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I’m always giggling at “Snick Paprikash” > > I’m not even sure I know what her name is… Snigdha Prakash. She doesn’t appear to work for NPR anymore. I think part of the problem is that many of them smush their names together so you can’t tell where the break is. Like Joannesilburner. I was also surprised that it’s actually Ira Flatow, not Ira Plato. I don’t know where I got that P from. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/14 "2009-11-13T19:58:19Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > You mean Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal? I swear they create these names in a laboratory. Anyway, you’re thinking of [Ina Jaffe](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100677), although I could have sworn she was Ina Jaffe-Walt or something like that. Different person. [Chana Joffe-Walt](http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/05/who_am_i_and_where_did_i_come.html) mostly works with the Planet Money podcast now (though she used to be on Marketplace, and may still be occasionally–I don’t listen to it that much). ---
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/15 "2009-11-13T19:59:54Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > You mean Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal? I swear they create these names in a laboratory. Anyway, you’re thinking of [Ina Jaffe](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100677), although I could have sworn she was Ina Jaffe-Walt or something like that. Yeah - that. I think there are two different people. The latter sounds younger and does more human interest stories, IMO. I’ll obviously never work for marketplace - my name is way too boring. EDIT: NEVERMIND! Thank you **DoctorJ**! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/16 "2009-11-13T20:41:23Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Ah yes, she does most of their reports from Europe, doesn’t she? Yep - based in Rome. She says “This is SYL-vyah POH-jolie” and I get a nice little shiver… ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/17 "2009-11-13T21:13:49Z")
Speaking of NPR staff, who’s the female health reporter that sounds like she has a wicked case of adenoids? ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/18 "2009-11-13T22:19:22Z")
Disregard. It’s Joanne Silberner. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/19 "2009-11-13T22:28:58Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I just about busted a gut - thanks. > > (Tuesday I was wondering how to address my neighbor Claudia - who is from Nicaragua. Do I just anglicize it, or go for it and try to pronounce it as she does, and risk sounding like a really white idiot?) If you work for the BBC, you would address her as Clod-ee-a from Nick-ar-agg-yew-a. They don’t believe in Spanish, apparently. I can’t believe this thread is here, because the same random thoughts crossed my mind recently. We probably heard the same report from Dolly Kai sow chow. (There are many NPR correspondents whose names are just streams of sounds in my brain, with no clue how they look written down.) ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413/20 "2009-11-13T22:32:41Z")
I think I swerve every time I hear Lakshmi Singh mispronounce her name on-air. I mean, Alfonso Guzman Lopez just straight up says his name the right way. Then I think about how I casually mispronounce my legal name to make it easier on the Western ear and am flooded with a sense of hypocrisy. My real name is a lot harder than hers, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-correspondent/517413.md?page=2)