Easily explained for children - They speak Kamala Harris incorrectly. This is how it's done
Germans have been struggling with the name "Kamala Harris" since time immemorial, and the Anglo-Saxon world finds this amusing. Here in this country, it's "Drive in" instead of "Drive through," and Europeans, as well as many Americans, have trouble pronouncing the name of their potential next head of state correctly.
Regarding the designated democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Europeans are not the only ones who are confused. Many Americans are unsure how to pronounce the name of their possible next chief executive.
To help those who find the script less daunting than Donald Trump with facts, here's a guide.
Kamala Harris' Name Explained Simply
Harris herself is well aware that she presents many US voters with a challenge when it comes to pronouncing her first name, except for Jill, Hillary, or – God forbid – Karen. When she ran for the Senate in 2016, as Attorney General of California (a hybrid of Justice Minister and Attorney General), she made a verbal serving suggestion. In a still-golden campaign ad titled "It’s Kamala!," children explain to baffled adults how to correctly pronounce Harris' name – and how not. Not "Kamaela," "Kuhmalah," or "Kamella."
Instead, it's "Commala." The prefix is pronounced like "Komma." Alternatively, the name can be easily split: into a longer "Kama" and a short "la."
For those who find this still too challenging, here's a mnemonic device: Harris combs her hair – she is simply Kammala Harris. Not perfect, but closer than most variations haunting the internet.
Kamala Harris – The Lotus Flower
Interestingly, the name Kamala comes from ancient Sanskrit, as Harris herself explained in her 2019 memoir "The Truths We Hold." The Flippers knew this back in 1989: "I named you lotus flower," the lyrics of the German Beatles' hit track "Back in the U.S.S.R." read. The delicate pink water plant is considered sacred on the predominantly Hindu subcontinent, symbolizing creativity, loyalty, and the purity of the heart. No pressure, then. Harris' mother is from India, her father from Jamaica. The two immigrants met in the USA in 1960.
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Just for our tongue's sake: We hope Harris doesn't choose Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as her vice president. "Buuttedschedsch"...
Despite the challenges many Americans and Europeans face in pronouncing 'Kamala Harris', the correct pronunciation is actually "Commala", with the prefix pronounced like "Komma" or split into "Kama" and "la". This information was shared by Harris herself during her campaign for Senate in 2016.
In a contrary context, the text mentions the difficulty for some in pronouncing 'Donald Trump's' name, indicating that the pronunciation issue is not exclusive to 'Kamala Harris'.
