Proper Pronunciation?

[moldyoldy]

Just out of curiosity, how is it pronounced...La-tack-ee-ah or Lata-kee-ya ? Not that I'm about to run out & buy some, I'm diggin' Carter Hall and Velvet right now......only ones I can keep burning fairly easily..... :puffpipe:

 

[jacks6]

Lah-Ta-Kia

 

[bonehed]

I think locally it's pronounced La-TAH-kia, but most everywhere else uses Latta-KI-a. After all, it's SEER-ia, not Ser-EE-a...

/shrug

 

[checotah]

I pronounce it "Tase Tee". :lol:

 

[shutterbugg]

Rhymes with diarrhea.

 

[bigpond]

La-TAHK-ee-a
The second syllable isn't quite as sharp as TACK nor as soft as TALK.
This is how it is pronounced on the coast by local Levantine Arabic speakers.
The earliest spoken reference that I've heard is from a Rathbone film in which the shopkeeper (also prominently displaying Petersons) refers to a cigarette blend as containing La-Ta-Key-ah which seems closer to what we hear today. I think most pipe shops will look at you sideways if you pronounce it any way other than ladda-key-ah.

 

[jitterbugdude]

The earliest spoken reference that I've heard is from a Rathbone film in which the shopkeeper (also prominently displaying Petersons) refers to a cigarette blend as containing La-Ta-Key-ah which seems closer to what we hear today. I think most pipe shops will look at you sideways if you pronounce it any way other than ladda-key-ah.

BINGO!
I think most pipe smokers pronounce it "ladda-key-ah" because it makes them feel special.

 

[stvalentine]

I heard Russ Oulette saying "Latta-key-ah" and wondered if I had pronounced it wrong all the time.... 8O

 

[misterlowercase]

La-TAHK-ee-a
The second syllable isn't quite as sharp as TACK nor as soft as TALK.
This is how it is pronounced on the coast by local Levantine Arabic speakers.
The earliest spoken reference that I've heard is from a Rathbone film in which the shopkeeper (also prominently displaying Petersons) refers to a cigarette blend as containing La-Ta-Key-ah which seems closer to what we hear today. I think most pipe shops will look at you sideways if you pronounce it any way other than ladda-key-ah.

Good post,

thanks!

::
I go with ladda-key-ah as you say, just seems to roll smoothly off the tongue for me.
Interesting note about the local pronunciation, that should be the definitive way to say it.
I noticed a few variations on youtube from miscellaneous reporters when searching "latakia syria"...
...and I found this beautiful video too,

complete with hung and curing tobacco at around 6:38,

so the stuff is still grown there, but probably only in small quantities enough for local consumption...
::
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3yYC8taQ1A

 

[mcitinner1]

I've heard big name guys pronounce it both ways...my way is La-TAHK-ee-a.

 

[iaindescribable]

Well, according to Wikipedia:
"Latakia; Lattakia or Latakiyah (Arabic: اللَاذِقِيَّة‎ al-Lādhiqīyah Syrian pronunciation: [el.laːdˈʔɪjje, -laːðˈqɪjja])"
So if you want to use the local pronunciation, la-ta-KI-ah

 

[moldyoldy]

Car-ter Hall.......just easier to say :-P

 

[jpmcwjr]

Any which way but loose! Both are just fine, though I usually say "Latta key uh".

 

[bigpond]

Well, according to Wikipedia:
"Latakia; Lattakia or Latakiyah (Arabic: اللَاذِقِيَّة‎ al-Lādhiqīyah Syrian pronunciation: [el.laːdˈʔɪjje, -laːðˈqɪjja])"
So if you want to use the local pronunciation, la-ta-KI-ah

Yes, you can see how difficult it can be to make the correct pronunciation even when reading a guide. Around 4:22 you'll hear it pronounced by an Syrian living in Latakia.

http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181678179/two-syrian-women-two-very-different-perspectives-on-war