I could NOT let this topic slip by without adding my two cents.
Growing up I had a friend that pronounced her name Fa-mallay. One day I happened to run across her name written down spelled F-E-M-A-L-E.
Now, anyone with half a brain knows that is FEMALE!!! Apparently (and this is the truth I kid you NOT) her mother (never a Rhode scholar mind you) thought the midwife named her daughter for her. She thought this because she saw "Female" on the birth announcement the morning following the birth of her child. By the time this "misunderstanding" was cleared up, the mother had already told everyone her child's name was "Female" (pronounced Fa-mall-lay).
I blame the public school system.
I feel so sorry for that girl.
HumbleBumbleBee
[This message has been edited by humblebumblebee (edited January 06, 2001).]