In Canada, we have a public broadcaster called the CBC. They are generally well-liked, but one thing they do that bothers people is pronounce the word 'harassment' as "Harrisment", for reasons unknown to me. This has resulted in this pronunciation becoming somewhat common among the rest of Canadians, to the annoyance of the rest of the rest of Canadians, who know the correct way to pronounce the word. Most of these annoyed Canadians, myself included, are not even named Harris.

I think it is not inconceivable that the popularization of the pronunciation "Harrisment" may have led to an association in some people's minds between 'Harris' (the surname) and the concept of 'bad', potentially leading to unconscious discrimination against people named Harris. I suggest conducting a study to see if that has taken place.

(Hmmm… if the study shows it has occurred, it might be grounds for a class-action defamation lawsuit by all Harrises, so the CBC might be opposed to such a study.)

35/202
-- notexactly, Apr 01 2017

Reference: Facebook comment telling off the CBC for saying "Harrisment" https://www.faceboo...s/10154329443224604
It's actually surprisingly hard to find references for this, but I guess it's just not something people post about online very much. [notexactly, Apr 02 2017]

I think it's just an alternative syllabication to avoid saying a naughty word, like how some will accent the second syllable in "pianist."
-- Cuit_au_Four, Apr 02 2017


Another variation on the theme, "hairrassment", refers to all the troubles someone might have, that are associated with trying to manage head-hair that has grown down to reach the butt.
-- Vernon, Apr 02 2017


Vernon,you know me so well.
-- wjt, Apr 02 2017


Yes. I mean, No. I'm sorry.
-- Sgt Teacup, Apr 02 2017


I think this pronunciation was to convey the seriousness of the matter and get away from the many happy connotations that "hair ass mint" has for Canadians.

Much like the Canucks say "beau -tanical" instead of botanical: many products so labeled have SPF 0 and the Canadians were learning that the hard way.
-- bungston, Apr 02 2017


Are people named Harris unconsciously biased against Canadians?
-- popbottle, Apr 04 2017


Looks like I got a bone from the CBC.
-- notexactly, Apr 07 2017


Well have a bun from me, because otherwise I was never going to get to use my extremely witty wordplays there.
-- bungston, Apr 07 2017



random, halfbakery