The Editor, Sir:

HELP! I need help with the pronunciation of this word: JAMAICA. Is it pronounced JA-MAI-CA (JA as in jam) or JU-MAI-CA (JU as in July) as I have been hearing recently.

I need advice from the experts on languages and the origin thereof. As a child, I can remember the word being pronounced Jamaica (Ja as in jam) only to find out now that it is JUMAICA.

Was Jamaica mispronounced by foreigners and copying everything from abroad, we started to pronounce it Jumaica? I think we are confusing our children and adults too. To the best of my knowledge, Jamaica is not is a French word, so why should it be pronounced Jumaica.

Please, I - as well as others - need some clarification on this issue.

Jumaica, Jumaica, Jumaica land we love.

I am, etc.,

Confused Jamaican