It was startling to hear some normally proficient local TV newscasters struggle to pronounce the last name of Illinois's embattled governor, Rod Blagojevich.One-by-one they succumbed to the tongue twister. It was almost painful to hear. One anchor (who will remain nameless) gave it three tries before she gave up.
Here's the pronunciation: bluh-GOY-uh-vich. It took me seven seconds to find it online. Nearly every TV station has the luxury of subscribing to a news service that provides pronunciation guides on any "toughies" that might show up in major news stories.
If I had to read it in front of several thousand people, I would: 1) look up the pronunciation; 2) turn on a cable news channel and listen to others say it a few times; 3) practice, practice, practice.
