I am all for pronouncing things properly, but it can cause problems. I first drank Hoegaarden in Belgium and learned the flemish pronunciation - sort of "hu-charden", with a "ch" like "loch".

Now that you can get it over here I always have to ask twice, once for the proper name, and then when they say "sorry?" for "hoe garden".

Yes knowing word etymology and how to pronounce a word according to its native origin is a good thing but then not isn't necessarily ignorance either.
I know french and italian people who have been living here for years and still cannot pronounce words like 'husband' properly etc etc. Saying 'bru-sh-etta' instead of 'bru-sc-etta' doesn't make you uncultured just as saying it the italian way doesn't make you cultured.
Next we'll be arguing whether it should be cl-ar-ss or cl-a-ss :yawn:

I generally acknowledge the inevitable diversity of pronunciation. Germany does not have a problem with this, because their haughty strait-laced language simply refuses to import foreign words.

If habitual mispronunciation is known to cause listeners annoyance, then it would be good business and good manners to at least make an effort. Mispronouncing another person's name, or worse to call him or her by the wrong name altogether could be construed as deliberate provocation, or at best not caring enough to make an effort.

The BBC used to have a department specialising in ascertaining correct pronunciation of foreign names -- info which they pass onto newsreaders etc. No doubt this department still exists in the Beeb, but while they pocket their salaries they patently no longer make an effort.

The Beeb no longer takes pride in upholding the standards of an English gentleman.

It's true, never heard them. But look where I live; we're pretty sophisticated here in London-by-Sea.

Though that fokka-cheeyah thing could be quite funny in a knowing, ironic way