Was that a synthesized voice reading off the names of the Medal of Freedom winners?

[Ken Burch]

The pronounciations were very often quite weird(I haven't ever heard anyone mispronounce the name "Springsteen" on television before that).

Still, it's a great group of folks.

[spanone]

1. 'springstin'

[Leith]

6. And Redford

like it was two words: "red ford"

[MADem]

2. I didn't watch, but usually, it's a very experienced protocol officer who does those sorts of things

And name pronunciation is usually checked with the principal (or his/her staff) to avoid issues. Maybe a transcription problem?

[Ken Burch]

3. It wasn't just the Springsteen thing...this happened with a lot of the names.

And few if any of these were names we all haven't heard said on a regular basis.

It sounded like a speech generator to me.

[MADem]

4. I've never seen that happen! A protocol officer's job, outsourced to a machine! ???

They do tend to sound a bit mechanical, but that is by design--the default is to over-pronounce each syllable.

I'll have to try and catch it to see....or hear.

[Ken Burch]

5. Watch it on C-Span later.

It's at the part where the honorees are making their entrances, right at the start of the event.

Surprised the hell out of me, too.