Country fans: How does she pronounce her name?

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Just got the two CD's I ordered - the latest by two different ladies- one a Jazz artists, the other a country artist.

The latest by Elvis Costello's wife Dianna Krall ( she would look much better standing next to me-than to an ugly dork like EC).

And the latest by country singer Kathy Mattea.

My question is this: how is Kathy Mattea's name pronounced?

Is it "mat-tee" ( like the beverage tea), or is it Mat- te -ay", or Ma- tay"- or what?

mah-TAY-uh

KATH-ee

I would pronounce "mat-tee-ah" in English.

But probably the correct pronunciation is "mat-te-ah" as it's not an English surname. Maybe it's Jewish? If it is, sure someone who speaks Hebrew pronounces it correctly.

Mattea is the feminine form of Matthew. They are from Hebrew and mean "gift of God". These names have been Romanticized, Germanized, and Anglicized in many different ways over the centuries. We in the American South, however, tend to say "mat-TAY-uh".

(Well, this is an Asperger's site, you know!)

Yes, but Mattea is not an Anglicized surname so you have to pronounce it more accurately! I have heard those weird pronunciations of native English speakers with other surnames too. You have a lot of difficulties with foreign surnames that have two or three consecutive vowels, but you have to make an effort

I didn't understand your Asperger reference here

Ma-TAY-uh.

Sounds right.

Actually I think ive heard it said that way on the radio back in the 90's.

Thanks.