The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #110510 Message #2321169
Posted By: Rowan
20-Apr-08 - 10:26 PM
Thread Name: Mairi's Wedding-how to pronounce Mairi
Subject: RE: Mairi's Wedding
George was very well informed with his comments following his Well, to answer about the long a sound but, leenia, the aphorism "when in Rome, do as the Romans" is worth remembering too.
In Oz, the song's tune is about as "traditional" as possible, within the Oz context, and is frequently used for dances; the song is occasionally sung as well. I've never heard it pronounced here other than with the long "a" (as in Mah ree) and, while we have quite a few Scots (both real and wannabe pretenders) nobody would cooment about it being so pronounced.
Of course, if one sang it in Garlic, eyebrows would be raised (discreetly) unless it was clear to everyone that the singer's ethnicity enabled such linguistic dexterity.
Cheers, Rowan