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Initialisms are usually late-stressed, e.g., CIA /ˌsiaɪˈeɪ/, or mph /ˌempiːˈeɪtʃ/

However, I don't know how to pronounce initials from personal names, such as

J.K. Rowling

J.R.R. Tolkien

O.J. Simpson.

Or the initials alone, as in

JFK

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    I pronounce the initials with the stress on the first one (as if the initials form their given name), but less than the surname. Commented Mar 24 at 22:19
  • @WeatherVane Good point, early secondary stress on the initials. But then, how do you pronounce JFK? Commented Mar 24 at 22:24
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    The same way as I pronounce mph, CIA or FBI :) Commented Mar 24 at 22:25
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    I give equal stress to the first three sets, initials and first syllable of surname, and vary between the same for JFK or double stress on the initial and terminal letters. Commented Mar 24 at 23:16
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    "Initialisms are usually late-stressed" - Is this true? What's your source? Does it apply in all variants of English (US and UK has very different stress rules). Commented Mar 25 at 9:49

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