From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2013 #883 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Thursday, June 27 2013 Volume 2013 : Number 883 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Hejira pronunciation [Catherine McKay ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:30:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Hejira pronunciation Thanks, Gary. I am struck by how good Joni looks in this video. 1998 was fifteen years ago, so she was 54-55. I think she looks much younger here, but maybe they're using gauzy filters. But, some people stay youthful looking for a long time and then suddenly, almost overnight, start looking their age. Although I think Joni now looks her age, I hope to look that good or to have that kind of energy at 70, if I live that long. The use of table lamps is also interesting, because they were used on stage at Massey Hall, along with some other living-room type furniture (sofas on the side of the stage for the singers if they wanted to stay on stage, carpets on the floor, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling with drapes behind. It gave the place a sort of homey feel. I guess that was Joni's idea. >________________________________ > From: Gary Z. >To: Susan E. McNamara >Cc: "joni@smoe.org" ; "onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org" >Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:12:09 AM >Subject: Re: Hejira pronunciation > > >Hi Sue, > >Here's a video where Joni talks about Hejira (from "Painting with Words >and Music"). > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA6HGN1crNU > >Best, > >Gary Z. >Detroit > >Susan E. McNamara wrote: >> Wow, Bob, this brings me on a quest to find a video interview where she >> pronounces it. It must be in Woman of Heart and Mind at least. Not sure. I >> was also reminded of the word Haj - another word describing the holy >> pilgrimage to Mecca. >> >> Susan Tierney McNamara >> email: sem8@cornell.edu >> >> From: Robert Sartorius [mailto:bobsart48@aol.com] >> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 9:49 PM >> To: joni@smoe.org; onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org >> Cc: Susan E. McNamara >> Subject: RE: Hejira pronunciation >> >> >> Sue stated: >> >> >> >> "I've always pronounced it Heh-jeer-a ... and I think that's the way Joni >> pronounces it. I've heard many variations so I go with the way she says it." >> >> >> >> I think that's how Joni pronounces it, too, but I cannot pinpoint where I came >> to that conclusion. Can anyone else confirm? As "widely known" here on the >> list, the word does not appear in the song's lyrics - just the title. >> >> >> >> My "bible" (er, dictionary) has been the Random House Unabridged. I own the >> second Edition, which is copyrighted in 1987, and so is now 26 years >> out-of-date. Still, it is a magnificent tome, with exquisite dissertations on >> nuances of related words, to answer essentially every question that has ever >> come up in my conversations. >> >> >> >> Said "bible", inexplicably, does not list as one of its definitions (u.c., >> natch) "a masterpiece album and song by Joni Mitchell". >> >> >> >> They define(d) it as "hegira - def. 2", with a preferred pronunciation of " hi >> JEYE ruh" (i.e., short i in first syllable, long I in second syllable, >> accented). This is the pronunciation that I have used since I first "looked >> it up".The alternate pronunciation is "HEJ uhr uh", short e in first syllable, >> accent on first syllable. The pronunciation of Hegira is the same. >> >> >> >> The primary definition under Hegira (also, hejira) is "Islam. Hijra". The >> second definition is "any flight or journey to a more desirable or congenial >> place". >> >> >> >> Hijra (HIJ ruh) short i in first syllable, accent on first syllable, in turn, >> is 1. The flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution A.D. >> 622, regarded as the beginning of the Muslim Era. 2. The Muslim Era itself. >> Also, Hegira, Hijrah (the latter of which is suggested as the Arabic source >> word). >> >> >> >> The Muslim Era is defined as the period since the flight of Muhammad from >> Mecca in AD 622 - also known as Hijra. >> >> >> >> Of course, similar loops could be constructed from any other dictionary, with >> numerous variations, no doubt. And, with the increase in the frequency of >> usage of Islamic terms in written and spoken English over the past 26 years, >> there has no doubt been some evolution since then. >> >> >> >> If this were Joni's name, I would argue that she gets to make the call. [For >> example, my wife's maiden name is Rosenbaum, and she pronounces the last >> syllable as "bomb" - which, it has been decreed, is her prerogative ;-)] But >> Joni admits she stole her title from her dictionary, so it seems to me that >> her dictionary's pronunciation should control, no? All Joni needs to do is to >> produce the one she consulted in 1975, and I will be happy to change the way I >> pronounce Hejira ;-) >> >> >> >> Bobsart ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2013 #883 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, sendtojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------