"Stop calling me Xavier, its Xavier !" Hmm?

[Kathi]

Lol. No. Or, no, I'm lost. Or, call him Bob.

[Owen]

I don't see any problem with phonetically spelling out the name as you have it in the first example: " ecks-ZAY-vee-er, its SHA-vee-e". I've seen that any number of times and I think it's pretty clear what you intend.

This is not good (IMO) because it doesn't clarify what's wrong with the first pronunciation: "Stop calling me ecks-ZAY-vee-er, its Xavier!"

Hope that helps.

[Kat]

I agree with Owen. "stop calling me ecks-ZAY-vee-er, its SHA-vee-e" gives me the info I need as a reader:
1) what they called him so far
2) what he wants to be called instead.

Personally, I'd have called him Zah-vee-EH in my head up to that point, but after reading the above I'll know better for the rest of the book :)

[Micah]

You say potato...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcHKm...

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Rob wrote: ""Stop calling me ecks-ZAY-vee-er, its SHA-vee-e !""

This works.

[T.L.]

Definintely agree with everyone else. I hate it when people use 'foreign' or unusual names then don't show how to pronounce them.

Your first example clearly states how it should be pronounced; not stupid at all.

[G.G.]

Rob wrote: "I remember how i thought I wrote it, but it didn't look stupid until I just read it back:

"Stop calling me Xavier, its Xavier !"..."

That works for me except it should be it's and not its.

[Christina]

When in doubt, sound it out. ;)

I agree with the others. I've seen plenty of authors do this.

[Steve]

G.G. wrote: "Rob wrote: "I remember how i thought I wrote it, but it didn't look stupid until I just read it back:

"Stop calling me Xavier, its Xavier !"..."

That works for me except it should be it's and not..."

GG---always thought the rule was, only use 'it's' if it is a contraction for 'it is'. :)

[G.G.]

Steve wrote: "GG---always thought the rule was, only use 'it's' if it is a contraction for 'it is'. :)..."

True, so it's it's and not its.:P
Unless you think in this case it isn't used for 'it is' but rather the possessive form, 'its'?

Let's see and change pronouns. :P

"Stop calling me Xavier, my Xavier!" (That really sounds naughty.) :>
"Stop calling him Xavier, his Xavier!" (Nope, it doesn't sound much better.) :P

[[deleted user]]

It think what is meant is, "Stop calling me Xavier, it is Xavier." In this case "it is" would be contracted to "it's."

[Hayden]

I'm normally pretty sarcastic so I'm clarifying that I am NOT being sarcastic when I ask, are you absolutely sure, this guys name HAS to be Xavier? I think the X-Men thing is going to bite you in the butt on this one. Can you change his name to Aloise for instance?

[[deleted user]]

Hayden wrote: "I'm normally pretty sarcastic so I'm clarifying that I am NOT being sarcastic when I ask, are you absolutely sure, this guys name HAS to be Xavier? I think the X-Men thing is going to bite you in t..."

That was my first thought when I saw this. Couldn't his name just be Fred?

[[deleted user]]

The constant incorrect pronunciation of Xavier can add a bit of humor, of course, and I imagine that you meant it that way. It can be used as a running joke, if it's not overdone. But at some point in the story, if he gets exasperated enough, he could turn to the guy and say, "Why don't you just call me Fred?" I can see Samuel L. Jackson saying that.

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Ken wrote: "I can see Samuel L. Jackson saying that."

Or he'd whip out his nickle-plated Star Model B and say, "Say my name wrong again, mother-f...er! I dare you!"

[Hayden]

Wait a sec. What if the name isn't the issue. Can you change the dialogue of that scene so he does something like looks at the guy and says "It's pronounced {then spell it out phonetically}?"

[[deleted user]]

Hi there, the main character in my book Hide & Seek is named Dana. She's Australian and has spent her life explaining (to other Aussies) that her name is pronounced DAY-na. Because there is a plot point around the pronunciation of her name later in the book I put this dialogue in the first couple of pages:
‘Darna Brentwood? Welcome to Valletta, welcome to Malta!’
‘Louis! It’s lovely to finally meet you, but the name’s pronounced DAY-NA. I know it’s not how it looks in writing; I’ve spent most of my life explaining it!’
Hope that helps.

[Igzy]

Rob said: ""Stop calling me ecks-ZAY-vee-er, its SHA-vee-e !"

This works fine for me because it clearly explains the difference between the two, and I get it. Clear, lucid writing is good stuff.

[Assaph]

Why not combine the two?

"Stop calling me Xavier, its Xavier !", he said in a pissy voice, pronouncing it as 'SHA-vee-ee'.

Maintains the humour in the writing, and explains what you need.