Post by Dr. Dorothy Attakora-Gyan, Ph.D.

Every now and again, I'm reminded that English isn't my first language. And that it's a truly complicated language to grasp at times. (I'm also a library kid that mostly reads physical books, so I don't always get to hear the audio version pronunciation of things). Names especially trip me up. Hooked on Phonics never did save me from the embarrassment of pronouncing names like Charlene. I took out Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene A. Carruthers from the library. I also have Boys Don't Fry. It's written by Kimberly Lee and illustrated by Charlene Chua. My brain wants to read the name Charlene as Car-lene. It automatically pronounces the C-H like Christmas. Like a K. But it's actually more like Shar-lene? The C-H here is so confusing. Because it's not even C-H like in charcoal or chairs. It's more like sh, or share? Ancestors said it's more like sh-sh-Charlene. Anyway, I asked a real life human tonight. They pronounced it the right way. Like the Ancestors/Spirit said. I can't understand why my brain can't get on board with it the first time. No matter how many times I say it, know how it's pronounced, or hear it. She just does her own thing.