A curious phenomenon has taken hold in some news broadcasts: the sudden adoption of accents when pronouncing names that sound Spanish. Rob Finnerty, a host with Newsmax, recently highlighted this peculiar habit, questioning its origins and the reasoning behind it.
The observation stemmed from a New York City mayoral debate, where Finnerty noticed a consistent pattern. Anchors and reporters seemed compelled to “shapeshift” into a Spanish accent when uttering names like Rosarina Bretón, a Telemundo 47 anchor.
Finnerty found this practice jarring, pointing out the years of diction training these professionals undergo. He wondered why that training would be abandoned for a fleeting, and arguably performative, accent.
To illustrate the absurdity, Finnerty playfully adopted an exaggerated Irish brogue, imagining how he himself would be introduced – “Robert James Finnerty, don’t you know the little lad?” – if he were moderating the debate.
He argued that such a treatment would be unthinkable for someone of Chinese descent, or any other ethnicity. The expectation to adopt an accent, he asserted, should not apply simply because a name *sounds* a certain way.
Finnerty’s critique extended beyond the accent itself. He also questioned the practice of using full, multi-part names when a simpler version suffices. “We don’t need to say Kilmar Abreu Garcia,” he stated, “It’s just Kilmar Garcia.”
His central point resonated with a simple plea: stop the unnecessary and arguably disrespectful practice of altering pronunciation based on perceived ethnicity. It’s a habit he believes has gone on long enough.
Finnerty’s commentary sparked discussion, prompting viewers to consider the subtle biases that can creep into even seemingly innocuous broadcasting conventions. He challenged the accepted norm, asking a simple, yet powerful question: why do we do this?
The core of his argument isn’t about linguistic precision, but about respect and consistency. It’s about treating all names, and all individuals, with the same straightforward dignity.
