The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #81725   Message #1498728
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
02-Jun-05 - 08:43 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Pronunciation req's for British Subjects
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Pronounciation req's for British Subjcts
As a rule, final -gh isn't voiced; that's what the "h" is for. I've only ever heard Edinburgh prounced with a final "g" by foreigners (they sometimes also say "Edin-broe". That's wrong, too). It should make no difference at all whether you ask a Scottish or English person; the only variation would be whether the final part is pronounced "bra" or "burra"; and that's merely down to how fast you say it.

That "wined/winned" business is a red herring, really, as poetic diction doesn't reflect contemporary usage. "Mind" and "wind" used to rhyme, true; but neither word was pronounced quite as it is today. "Mind" used to have a shorter vowel sound than it does now.