Multicultural names

Chairing a meeting or introducing speakers

Papagiannopoulos or even Patsiketheodorous is a cinch of a name to say compared with some names from Eastern Europe or Asia - if you speak Greek. We live in such a diverse society and although we can't all be as good as those newsreaders, we do need to put in the extra preparation needed to show respect - by not mis-pronouncing a person't name.

To put that more positively, it's absolutely vital that you pronounce a person's name correctly. To help you do that, if you're introducing speakers with polysyllabic names or names without vowels, make sure that you:

• Ask the person how to pronounce their name. Check with them on the spot that your hearing of that prononciation was correct. Practise saying that name until you feel comfortable that on Graduation evening, or whatever the event, you'll breeze through.
• I find it easier to telephone the person, do that checking and record my pronunciation for later re-inforcement.

Remember that names like Roberts or even Smithson can be tongue twisters for people whose first language is not English.

If you're a keynote speaker, an executive who regularly hosts staff meetings, a Dean at a College or University you must be prepared to put in the extra time to achieve public speaking success.