Merce Cunningham, born Mercier Philip Cunningham, was a renowned American choreographer and dancer who had a significant impact on the world of modern dance. When it comes to pronouncing his name, there are a few different ways it can be said.
One common pronunciation is “merce cunningham,” where “Merce” rhymes with “verse” and “Cunningham” is pronounced as “KUN-ing-ham.” This is the most straightforward and commonly used pronunciation.
Another way to pronounce his name is “m-ER-s-AI KUN-ing-ham,” with the emphasis on the first syllable of “Merce” and a slight elongation of the “ER” sound. In this pronunciation, the “s” in “Merce” is pronounced as a “z” sound, and the “AI” in “m-ER-s-AI” is pronounced like the letter “I.”
Yet another variation is “m-ER-say KUN-ing-ham,” where the “s” in “Merce” is pronounced like the letter “s” rather than a “z” sound. The “AY” in “m-ER-say” is pronounced as a long “A” sound, similar to the word “say.”
It’s important to note that different people may have their own preferred pronunciation, and there may be regional or cultural variations as well.
Personally, I have always pronounced it as “merce cunningham,” as that is the most common pronunciation I have heard in the dance community. However, it’s always a good idea to ask someone directly if you are unsure of how they prefer their name to be pronounced.
The phonetic spelling of Merce Cunningham can be represented as “merce cunningham,” “m-ER-s-AI KUN-ing-ham,” or “m-ER-say KUN-ing-ham,” depending on personal preference or regional variations.