BS: Pronounciation

Subject: BS: Pronounciation
From: Ethereal Purple
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 01:41 AM

How do you pronounce names like Sinead O'Connor... Shinade? Oh.. and Cher... how d'you pronounce Cher?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 01:50 AM

shair-cher

shinaid-sinead

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Mr Happy
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 04:11 AM

sinny add chur=?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 04:15 AM

How do you spell words like "pronunciation" ?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Ethereal Purple
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 04:48 AM

Oops... I didn't realise *blushes*. Thanks, guest.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 05:38 AM

"Cher", name of the scantily-clad skinny female singer and former distaff half of Sonny & Cher, is short for "Cheryl" -- if that helps! And in some places "Sinead" (I forget where the fada goes) is pronounced "skinhead".

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 06:21 AM

Chair? isn't that her that has had more surgery than any 400 other people.
eric

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 09:41 AM

If you want to upset a Sinead, pronounce it Janet

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Ethereal Purple
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 09:47 AM

How about Tabor... as in, June Tabor...? I'm awful at pronouncing these names!

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:07 AM

Tay (A as in cake)

Bur (not quite a neutral "schwa" vowel sound; more like the "or/our" in color/colour"

Accent is on the first syllable.

And I just want you to know that I'm deriving endless amusement from picturing Cher, Sinead O'Connor and June Tabor in the same room. Do you suppose they have any songs in common?

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Ethereal Purple
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:12 AM

Thanks, Claire.

LOL... I did pick 'em well, didn't I? There are probably LOTS of other names that I mispronounce... figured this is the best place to ask :-).

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Kim C
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 10:43 AM

Shinola?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 11:41 AM

Those in the UK and BBC Canada/BBC America watchers may be familiar with Inspector Dalziel. It's pronounced 'dee-ELL'

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: jimmyt
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 12:27 PM

the UK has some rather quirky pronounciations, ie Belvoir+ Beaver. and Beuleau+Booley. I remember when driving in ENgland the first time, and mispronouncing Gloucester (Glowster) and Worcester (Wooster) I thought I was cleaver when stopping for petrol and asking the attendent how far it was to Crinster? FIneally he said," Oh, you must mean Cirencester!" (Actually pronounced as it is spelled for a change.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Tracey Dragonsfriend
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 01:52 PM

I grew up in Costessey, which is pronounced Cossy, in Norfolk, UK. I went to school in Wymondham, pronounced Windam. Not far away is Happisburgh, pronounced Hayesboro. Wonderful stuff, English!

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 04:40 PM

Broader question: Is there a good place to look up the pronunciation of personal names and place names?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Gurney
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 09:46 PM

Born and raised in Warwickshire. (Worriksheer) And not all of the 'shires are pronounced 'sheer'.
Kiwi singer Bic Runga, (Beck)

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Kaleea
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 02:48 AM

Having heard many folks in the "mid-west"ern USA pronounce words, I have learned that most folks around the world are evidently cornfuzed 'bout jist how yewz s'poztuh say werdz inn eenglish. Fer eggzampull, it ain't "feenger," it'z "fayngurr." An' it ain't "sand-wich," it'z "sammich!" An' eevin arr prezuhdint noz how tew say "newkyewlurr!"

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:15 AM

Do you pronounce electrocute with one yell or two?

Seriously in the US Navy they pronounce a liuetentant as liuetenant but in the Royal Navy we always pronounced liuetenant as 'lefttennant'even though the spelling was the same when written out.

Leeward (i.e down wind) was luward
Gunwhale was gun'l
Coxswain was Cox'n

Woe betide those who could not get their pronunciation correct.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:47 AM

shanghaiceltic, the spelling is indeed the same in both Forces, but in neither one is it spelled "liuetenant" .

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:51 AM

Sorry I added an extra e should be liutenenant.

'Start that man Mr Christian!'

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:55 AM

Shanghai, you are winding me up, aren't you ?!!

Should have spotted that first time ....

However, just in case you aren't fishing, it is spelled LIEUTENANT

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:56 AM

Hull is pronounced Ull.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 04:15 AM

Here is a name that has been a bone of contention among racing people for years, maybe a local Mudcatter can help out.

Is the town of Southwell pronounced Suth'll or South-Well ?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 04:48 AM

Sorry Murray


'keel haul that man instead'

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 05:13 AM

That all weather race track is Suthell.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 07:26 AM

What a feckin stupid name this is, Cholmondley- pronounced Chumley.
or St John- pronounced sinjun.
eric

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 08:41 AM

How about Sean Bean.
Is it - seen been / shawn bawn or shann bann?
Quack!
Geoff the Duck (pronounced Duck)

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 08:46 AM

Sean Bean is shawn bean, but he's not Irish.

What about Greenwich (grennitch) Mean Time, and the town of Greenwich (green witch) in Scotland!

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Fiolar
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 08:52 AM

The problem with may English place names is that they do not have English roots. A great number are derived from Viking, Roman, Saxon and Celtic languages. Check the "Oxford Book of Placenames" for many of the meanings.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 10:19 AM

Not far from where I'm sitting is a hamlet called Gotham. Even locals can't tell me whether it's Got-ham, Goat-ham, Goth- am or Goath- am, or even something else (Goofum?)

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: muppett
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:00 AM

How about Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield pronouced Slouwit or Ben Rhyding near Ilkley pronouced Ben Ridding, or Bradford is pronouced as Brafud by locals.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:11 AM

Shithead

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 06:33 PM

Guest JTT, I think you meant Greenock in Scotland. I come from the West of Scotland and we always said Greenock although I have heard it pronounced Grinock, or Grenock, but rarely.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: dianavan
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 06:37 PM

For the longest time I pronounced lough - loo.

That certainly raised some eyebrows!

Whats worse are the words we learn in childhood and carry into adulthood. My brothers and I used to make great fun of it and still do. Time to start a new thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 06:37 PM

Down here in the swamps of Louisiana (Loo-Z-Anna) the names come from the French, Spanish, and Native Americans.

On my first tour of the area, a local told me that we were enterine DelCambre (pronounced Del-Cum). He said not to worry, it was miss-spelled on the water tower.

By the way, it's not New Orleans its Nawluns!

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Burke
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 06:52 PM

Sometimes it's Nawluns, other times it is New Orlens, or New Or-lee-ans. It is never, New Or-leeens. (born there)

What was really hard war all the people with the last name pronounced Abair. I can't even remember the spelling, Hebert, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:10 AM

The real fun is trying to understand whether the folka around here are saying Bayou Penchant or Bayou Pigeon. They come out about the same in Cajun.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 03:57 AM

HOW about--
Kirkoobrie---[Kirkudbright]
Boness---[Borrowstoness]
Anster---[Anstruther]
Mulguy--[Milngavie]

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Gurney
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 05:41 AM

I thought it was lootenant in the Andrew and leftenant in the Cake, but I stand to be corrected.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 06:55 AM

Back to folklore, celidh- kaly.
eric

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Peace
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 07:12 PM

GHOTI=fish

The gh as in enough.
The o as in women.
The ti as in action.

Gotta love language.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST,SirTK
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 08:22 AM

OK, so what are the rules in the USA for "Louis"?

Examples

Joe Louis, (who I know as "Lewis", but most people in UK want to say "Loo-ey")

Louis Armstrong (hello Dolly, this is Lewis, Dolly),

St Louis, Missouri. "It's the ghost, of the Saint Lewis Blues" according to Leon Redbone, but Billie Holliday sings "Saint Loo-ey Woman")

and then there is Louisville, Kentucky.

Can somebody please 'splain.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 02:47 PM

If I recollect aright, the good citizens of Louisville KY seemed to pronounce the name of their city "LOO-ville"

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 03:19 PM

And when you're in New Yawk city, don't pronounce Houston street the same way you say Houston, Texas. It's Howsten street. I've always wondered if there are any Hewsten Astro fans living on Howsten street.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: s&r
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 04:58 PM

Gotham in the midlands was always go-tum when I lived near there. Bradford is Bratford if you come from Yorkshire (my wife tells me) Basford is bays-ford in Nottingham. Hucknall was traditionally uckner. "H" is aitch not haitch.

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Peace
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 05:24 PM

And then there's the following.

TOUGH
THROUGH
BOUGH
THOUGH

OUGH makes four sounds, and if you don't mind adding a T, it will make five.

THOUGHT

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: GUEST,ozmacca
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:06 PM

Hey Boab, ah cum fae Bo'ness, an' we niver ca'd it Borrowstouness unless we wis pittin oan the swank. Mind, we ca'd it a' soarts o ither things..... The abbreviation is actually official. It appears in the press,on road signs and maps, and on other things (like artillery targets with any luck) as Bo'ness.

And talking of pronunciation, why is there so much cONtroversy over hopw to say contrOversy? Oh yes, and why is "abbreviation" such a long word?

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:20 PM

You missed out "Hiccough" there, brucie, pronounced "Hiccup"

And also one we've had already, "Lough".

Subject: RE: BS: Pronounciation
From: Peace
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:54 PM

Good one, McG of H. I'll add them to the list I show my students.