say Paola

[Doug Millison]

Interesting question. My experience as a tri-lingual person in the U.S.
(both coasts, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, and many other places) tells me
that Americans who try to preserve the original pronunciation of a foreign
word or name are somewhat suspect. The practice is to "Americanize" it, a
self-conscious effort, I believe, to avoid being taken for a dangerous
outsider. This is a case where it might be instructive to hear Pynchon read
from his work. Given his apparent fluency with foreign languages, I wonder
if he might preserve the original pronunciation.


Cyrus:
I encountered this problem while translating GR. A professor I know at NYU
told me it is definitely "Bo-Deen". I have also heard the name pronounced
that way in a couple of American TV serials. Sorry I can't be of help about
Paola and Frenesi. The problem seems to be whether one should adopt the
pronunciation of the name in its original language or a more "Americanized"
pronunciation. How to resolve this? Cyrus