Why did MasterChef contestant Jaime Tan mispronounce roti canai?

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Jaime Tan Mispronounced Roti Canai Due to Upbringing in the United States

MasterChef contestant Jaime Tan has apologised for mispronouncing "roti canai" as "roti kanai" during a challenge. The mispronunciation stemmed from her upbringing in the United States, rather than Malaysia, which led to the error on the show. Tan expressed her regret for unintentionally misrepresenting the significant dish on television, especially as she felt she was representing Malaysia.
Explanation for the Pronunciation Error

Tan explained in a social media video that her confusion with the pronunciation of "roti canai" was a direct result of being raised in the United States. As a Malaysian-American, she noted that the Malaysian community was not large where she grew up, leading to less exposure to the correct pronunciation of local dishes. Her father is from Johor, and her grandparents previously owned a kopitiam.
Acknowledgment of Dish's Importance and Apology

Tan acknowledged the deep cultural significance of "roti canai" to many people and expressed sadness at disappointing Southeast Asians. She stressed that the mispronunciation was unintentional and that she did not mean to misrepresent a national dish while on the show. She stated she has since learned the correct pronunciation.
Representing Malaysian Heritage

Despite the gaffe, Tan emphasized the importance of her Malaysian heritage to her experience on MasterChef. She felt a strong connection to Malaysia and found it meaningful to represent the country on the global stage. This made her particularly upset with herself for the mistake.
Dish Performance and Additional Remarks

Notably, Tan's dish, which included roti canai served with Malaysian curry, coconut rice, and a cucumber-pineapple salad, impressed judge Gordon Ramsay, contributing to her challenge win for Team Asia-Pacific. In her apology video, Tan also made a light-hearted comment about being able to open a durian with her bare hands, suggesting it was a "pretty Malaysian" skill, even if she struggled with the pronunciation of roti canai.

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Why did MasterChef contestant Jaime Tan mispronounce roti canai?

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