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The name of the Icelandic volcano that’s sending ash across Europe is giving news casters a rough time. The volcano’s name is Eyjafjallajokull, and it’s hard to say. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with BBC news presenter Mike Cooper, who’s been able to master it. By the way, Eyjafjallajokull is pronounced [AY-uh-f'YAHT-le-yuh-kutl].

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MARCO WERMAN:  Now that cloud has been belching from a volcano in Iceland called Eyjafjallajokull.  Eyjafjallajokull.  Alright I’m not the only one having trouble.  So you may have noticed a lot of news outlets are actually trying to avoid using the name.  Mike Cooper is a news presenter with the BBC World Service and Mike, you actually asked your producer to reinsert the name.  Give it a go for us.

MIKE COOPER:  Eyjafjallajokull.

WERMAN: One more time?

COOPER: Eyjafjallajokull.

WERMAN: Eyjafjallajokull

COOPER: The double L in Iceland is like a T-T-L.  The O, it has an – - over it so it’s like a German – - , so it’s an “ur” and then you have the double L again at the end of the word which is a T-T-L.

WERMAN: Okay so it’s aya – -

COOPER: aya – fyatluer – yerkertl.

WERMAN: fyat – - oh man this is tough.  Aya – fyatuer – right?

COOPER: So let’s do it bit by bit.  It’s aya.

WERMAN: Aya.

COOPER: Ayafyatluer.

WERMAN: Fyatluer.

COOPER: Ayafyat – sorry now I’m doing it.  Eyjafjallajokull.

WERMAN: Yerkertl.  Eyjafjallajokull.

COOPER: Perfect.

WERMAN: Wow.  It’s not easy.  I can see why you’re doing a recording.

COOPER: It’s struggling mid way through the morning and we were dodging around it and it was beginning to sound like we were dodging around it so I had the luxury of having an Icelandic speaker in the newsroom and I went over to the guy, his name is Ristepooker [phonetic] and said how do we do this?  Because I’m tired of not being able to do it.  Can you help me and can we get it right?  And since then it’s been the joy of the day to try to get it in as many times as they can it seems.

WERMAN: Alright, let me just try this one more time to convince our listeners that it’s not just a one off.  Eyjafjallajokull.

COOPER: Eyjafjallajokull  Aya.  Not bad Marco, keep practicing, you’ll get there.

WERMAN: I hope that one doesn’t erupt again as long as I’m in the business.  Mike Cooper, news presenter with the BBC World Service, thanks a lot.

COOPER: No problem.

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