The controversy over the pronunciation of Jaguar was discussed
at great length earlier this year on Car Talk (public radio
show featuring Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, and
marginally concerned with cars). At the time, one of the
brothers was convinced that Jaguar should provide him with
an XJS for a test drive of about six months. Listeners were
provided with the address for writing letters to Mike Cook,
Jag's U.S. distributor, urging him to provide the car, specifically
in British Racing Green, with beige Connally leather interior.
(No fools, the Tappet Brothers). I believe they finally got some
amused response from Cook, but not the Jag.
Anyway, they considered it vital that they correctly pronounce the
name of the car when pursuing their relentless, if fruitless,
campaign. After much debate and numerous phone calls from
listeners of more or less authority, their conclusion was that
the correct British pronunciation was Jag'-you-er, with the
third syllable sort of swallowed in a self-conscious manner.
So there's the answer from Click and Clack.
Jim Beckman att!mtqua!jeb 1955 A-H 100
[on the other hand, Dan Quayle probably pronounces it "em gee"]
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