Oh-Mazh, If You Will...

by Chris McGinty of AccordingToWhim.com

A long time ago, on a DVD commentary far, far away, I noticed that someone said something to the effect of, “We were paying Oh-mazh, if you will…” It didn’t really catch my attention until I noticed that every time someone said it they would say, “Oh-mazh, if you will…” If it wasn’t for that weird apology, I think it would have never caught my attention. It would have been one of those words that my brain tuned out because I didn’t know the meaning, but I caught the context. But that, “If you will…” jarred me back to reality, and I realized that they were saying, “homage.” I’ve been bitching about it since.

Nathan and I named the first episode of According To Whim “Homage.” This was because of my irritation with the pretentious pronunciation of the word. Because of this the naming convention of the episodes of Season One was a single word with a pronunciation and a definition. After that first one, we themed the word to the episode, but the naming convention was created because of this. This was 2004, so it’s been irritating for a while.

Let me say this. I’m not an expert on the English language, spelling, grammar, or punctuation. I don’t get everything right. It’s likely that I’ll screw something up in here as well. My complaint is the more that people point out that there is no such word that is pronounced “Oh-mazh” the more argumentative that people get about it. Seriously, there is an argument now that “Oh-mazh,” which is spelled “homage” is not the same word as homage… which is spelled “homage.” They say that while they have similar meanings that they’re not the same.

Let’s follow that:

1. Same spelling.

2. Similar meaning.

3. Massively different pronunciation that changes both vowel sounds and adds a Z somewhere in there.

4. Seems legit.

Let’s look at the definition real quick.

The definition that people feel it is pronounced like the dictionaries is as follows:

1a : a feudal ceremony by which a man acknowledges himself the vassal of a lord

b : the relationship between a feudal lord and his vassal

c : an act done or payment made in meeting the obligations due from a vassal to a feudal lord

2a : expression of high regard : respect bowed in homage to the king

b : something that shows respect or attests to the worth or influence of another : tribute

Now let’s look at tribute:

1a : something given or contributed voluntarily as due or deserved especially : a gift or service showing respect, gratitude, or affection a floral tribute

b : something (such as material evidence or a formal attestation) that indicates the worth, virtue, or effectiveness of the one in question the design is a tribute to his ingenuity

2a : a payment by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of protection also : the tax levied for such a payment

b(1) : an excessive tax, rental, or tariff imposed by a government, sovereign, lord, or landlord

(2) : an exorbitant charge levied by a person or group having the power of coercion

c : the liability to pay tribute

Basically, the same word.

So I declare that from this day forward that artists don’t pay tribute to other artists because it’s archaic and references kings and rulers, like homage. From here forward, it shall be pronounced “Tri-byoo-tay,” because it’s a completely different word, like “Oh-mazh.”

Chris McGinty is a mediocre blog writer who recently realized that Hollywood pronounces Homage like Homogenize, as if they're trying to say that everything they make is uniform or similar. Almost as if they are excusing the fact that they fear, or can't create, original ideas.