DEAR MISS MANNERS: I work with someone overseas whose name, properly pronounced in his language, sounds like a word that causes blushing among English speakers. Is it acceptable to mispronounce his name to avoid causing offense?
GENTLE READER: Surely, if this gentleman does business in the States -- or has ever watched any American cable television -- he is familiar with the problem.
You pointing it out or purposely mispronouncing his name is not likely to improve relations. Miss Manners suggests that you continue to pronounce his name correctly -- and take his calls behind closed doors so as not to invoke immature titters amongst your colleagues.