Expert: Kurt Bamert - 1/28/2009

Question
Dear Kurt,

Please, what is the correct pronunciation of the Swiss placename “Davos”? Where is the stress, and are the A and the O long or short?

Also, while on the subject, what is the pronunciation of your surname, please? Is the E pronounced as in “Bruder” or as in “Gert”? Does it have a meaning?

All the best,

Simon

Answer
Pronounciation Davos
Stress in the "a", short "a" long "o"; "v" as in English water (in Swiss German [Oriental variant] pronounciation).

Bamert
A German would pronounce the "e" as in Gert.
A Swiss German would pronounce the "e" in the name as in Bruder or even a more open "e" and pronounce two "mm". When I say my own family name nobody understands it at the first step... A German would pronounce only one "m".