MacPherson [how to pronounce?]

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST,Sharilyn McPherson
Date: 10 Jun 14 - 09:18 PM

My maiden name Is McPherson and I was taught that it was pronounced McFurson but most of my dad's family call it McFearson. But what really upset me was when I told people my name was McFurson they would say, oh you mean McFearson like I didn't know my own name. My grandfather called it McFurson but his brother called it McFearson. I never knew why.

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 11 Jun 14 - 07:53 PM

Mo the Caller -- Monkey Puzzle Tree (I have one in my garden)

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 14 - 11:08 AM

The old conflict between Scots Gaelic and Doric. The "fear" variant is related to Gaelic for "man" whereas the "fur" is Doric for "I don't really speak Gaelic, I'm just a Kiwi blagging it. It's so bloody cold I don't dare open my jaw and I need to sound butch when I'm painted blue with me bits dangling in the air."

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST,Guest MacPherson
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 01:35 PM

If you talk to a Highlander with an accent it is:
Mac Fair son. If you can fake a highlander accent with s slight roll on the 'r' it sounds natural. If you can't then Mac fur son is correct.

My athair(father) always told me There's no fear in MacPherson

Cheers

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 01:58 PM

Ah'm no feart!

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: Vic Smith
Date: 28 Sep 17 - 12:05 PM

The important thing to remember is that "Ph" is sounded as an "F"
The "P" is silent as in sea-batheing.

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST,Kenneth mcpherson
Date: 11 May 19 - 03:33 PM

From what I'm told fur wss ouldbe correct but every one will pronounce it different

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: leeneia
Date: 11 May 19 - 11:34 PM

Guest MacPherson, when I imagine a Scottish person talking, it seems to me that your pronunciation, Mac FAIR son, is the most natural.

I started this thread in 2008. Eleven years, and the debate continues.

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 12 May 19 - 11:52 AM

There is a sung comedy routine,
"MacPherson and MacFee,"
on the album Highland Voyage from the 19 ... '60's, was it?

The singers are John Grieve and Alex MacKenzie.
The two names in the title are pronounced frequently
as the song is sung.

And there is indeed NO fear in MacPherson,
it sounds more like
Mac FAIR son.

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST
Date: 12 May 19 - 12:05 PM

Trying to imagine how my Scottish son in law would pronounce it I suspect neither "fur" not "fair" but somewhere in between unreachable by either an English or American voice.

Subject: RE: MacPherson [how to pronounce?]
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 12 May 19 - 04:12 PM

There's no single Scottish accent so just cos one Scot pronounces it 'fair' doesn't mean another wouldn't say 'fer'. I'd agree 'fear' isn't the norm