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Posted: 2/3/2004 5:12:40 PM EDT
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Was wondering how to properly pronounce Valmet, so I asked my friend Rolf from Helsinki. He replied; Hi, Dave! As far as I'm concerned, the pronounciation is the same whatever the language, as Valmet is a proper noun. First, in general: Finnish is pronounced just like it is written, so the first option is the correct one. The second option is closer to French (as in "ballet"). Also, when speaking Finnish, the emphasis is always on the first syllable. Therefore, VALmet it is. The "a" in "val" is pronounced like the "ou" in "tough". "Met" is pronounced exactly like it would be in English. Hope that helps. |
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The pronunciation is VAL-met, emphasis on the first syllable, with the "a" sounding a bit like the "a" in "father." I recall through the fog of memory that the original name of Valmet was "Valtion Metallitehdas" meaning "the State Metal Works company" (VALtio = state, METall = metal). but it has been 18+ years since I last stepped foot in Jyväskylä and Helsinki. Valmet was a large company with different divisions for shipyards, world-class papermill machinery, autos (SAABs was assembled in Finland by the SAAB-Valmet works) and truck manufacturing, as well as large marine engines and measuring instruments, but also small arms, guns, artillery, etc. They built Scania diesel engines and Vire inboard marine engines (under license). It is now known as Metso. Though the people at J M Voith GmbH in Heidenheim, Germany may disagree, Valmet is THE world leader in papermaking technology, and Valmet machines hold world records for speed and production rates. Noah |
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