@ColinTheMathmo indeed. In English in particular, even a native speaker generally can’t see a new-to-them word, and know for absolutely sure how to pronounce it. One interesting side effect of my learning Spanish as an adult was a newfound appreciation for how nuts English pronunciation is, and how hard and weird it must be for (non-child) learners.

@skatem he looks like a quality cat! i have a soft spot for orange tabbies. always so friendly (in my experience.)

@shadowspar @kevinbowrin heh, indeed! i remember a spanish teacher of mine years ago being particularly emphatic that i got the pronunciation of "años" correct. it all matters, but that one /really/ matters.

@lowpass is this the centretown beer store? if i walked into that one, in particular, and heard (what i consider) an obscure bowie tune like 1984, i'd be pretty surprised! i don't know what i _would_ expect there, but probably not bowie deep cuts.

@lowpass you're not wrong: that is not a great tune. i'm not sure i've ever heard it in the wild before.