Ben Zimmer filted: Didn't we go over this not too long ago? New York Times, May 14, 1985 Science Desk; Q&A Q. So ... With such an overwhelming verdict about the present pronunciation of the name there was no point in continuing the

I certainly hear "marry" as different from the other two. ... close to my "merry", but probably there is a difference. I hear something between a "slight" difference and very different. I think the distinction is

Note that the spelling of "Sara" suggests the "Mary" vowel, unlike the spelling of "Farrah (Fawcett)", which I pronounce with the "marry" vowel. But... but ... you and I both pronounce "Aaron" with

How should the "Bob" in "Bob Cunningham" be pronounced? CINC Americans will want to say "bahb", using the cot/father vowel, but Bob's own pronunciation of "Bob" seems closer to their "Bawb".