I'm just very curious of how they got Rafe from Ralph. I'm sure the answer is easy and logical, but it escapes me. Will someone enlighten me please? Thank you! :)
share"Rafe" isn't actually his name, but a spelling used to demonstrate how his name is pronounced. His name is spelled "Ralph", but is pronounced as "R-a-f-e".
sharehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teUwuw95qHY
I saw and interview with Ralph Fiennes (see link above) during which he said his father named after his paternal step-grandfather, Ralph Eastwood, and that since his step-grandfather's name was pronounced Rafe, his parents chose to pronounce his name that way as well. Ralph went on to say that he wanted to honor his parents wishes and keep the pronounciation the same, although he sometimes wished he had changed the spelling of his name to Rafe before he was well-know...but that he feels it is too late in his career to do so now.
if I'm not mistaken, the name "Ralph" should always be pronounced "Rafe".
The great English composer Ralph Waughan-Williams' name is pronounced "Rafe".
I think "Ralf" is an Americanized pronunciation? I might be wrong there.
I think "Ralf" is an Americanized pronunciation? I might be wrong there.
It could be. Then again it might be a German language influence--in German 'Ralph' is pronounced 'Rawlf', like 'Rudolph' without the 'ud', but 'L' is definitely there. Who knows?
This site (http://www.behindthename.com/name/ralph) offers a little insight to the origins of the name, at least, but gives no clues about the differences in pronunciation--it simply states that those different pronunciations exist. In the comments section on that page, most people seem to agree that 'Rayf' is a British pronunciation and 'Ralf' American--I saw only one dissenter.
-waseom
I once heard a story some actor told about Fiennes' days in the theatre, and one night the announcer was declaring him in the lead role over the intercom, pronouncing it as it's spelt. Within seconds Ralph came storming through the door, shouting, "It's RAFE!"
I have heard from several sources that he is a really idiotic diva when he works, and this story certainly supports that view!
Lol, that is an amusing story!
However, I can't say I agree with the assessment that this little anecdote supports the idea that he's an idiotic diva.... I don't see anything idiotic or diva-ish about wanting people--particularly people you work with--to be able to pronounce your name correctly. It has to get irritating after a while--especially when everyone says it, in your view, wrong. It's unfortunate he didn't change the spelling to 'Rafe' when he was starting out, as then everyone would have said it right, but it's too late now.
-waseom
I know. My sister's name is Mireille. No one English speaking (so basically no-one where we live in the UK) can pronounce it (Mi-RAY), and always mispronounced it Mir-EEL or Mir-ELL, so by the time she was about 7 she got the nickname Relly, and that's what she goes by as an adult. It certainly annoyed her when people mispronounced it, but she never went off on one as Ralph Fiennes is reported to have.
Also, I'll add I have several friends who have worked as extras, and a couple who have worked with Ralph Fiennes all report that he frequently stormed off to his trailer during shoots because something or other that annoyed him, which seems very unprofessional and stupid.
Neither have I, although people consistently mispronounce my incredibly easy, very common, pronounced-as-it's-spelt name (which is not the same as my Internet handle), but I suppose I'm inclined to withhold judgment until I've actually met a person myself, and I'm highly unlikely to ever meet Ralph Fiennes. lol So I guess I'll never know for sure either way.
Ah, well, you think what you want and I'll think what I want and we'll both be happy, yeah?
-waseom