Origins: The Hot Ashphalt

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: meself
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 03:12 PM

I learned the pronunciation 'ash-vault' as a child, from my Maritime-Canadian parents, and still use that pronunciation. I remember how bewildered I was when I first saw the word on the page.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 02:53 PM

The mis-pronounciation "ash..." is not in the Oxford English Dictionary.

I wonder when the mistake started.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 02:02 PM

Jim

In effect, it's one of those words where the (mis)pronunciation is so pervasive that people usually misspell it - or look very dubiously at what they write down! At least in Ireland...

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 01:58 PM

Yes, I understand it is sung that way in the song, but for all I knew, that could be intentional use of dialect. Lots of songs are written and sung in a regional dialect.

What I wanted to know was: is it the standard or usual pronunciation in Britain and Ireland. Apparently it is.

Since posting my question, I have also found "ash-pelt."

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: doc.tom
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 01:42 PM

It's "ash-felt" in Ireland and the UK , Jim . Check out the way the song rhymes : Belt , felt , melt , pelt. I doubt if many would consider themselves illiterate because they pronounce it that way. YUP!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 01:42 PM

Jim:

Yes - you are so to understand!

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: mayomick
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 01:30 PM

It's "ash-felt" in Ireland and the UK , Jim . Check out the way the song rhymes : Belt , felt , melt , pelt. I doubt if many would consider themselves illiterate because they pronounce it that way,

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Apr 13 - 01:17 PM

Am I to understand that in Britain and Ireland "asphalt" is actually pronounced "ash-fault" or "ash-felt" and this is not considered an illiterate or dialectical pronunciation?

In the US, it is always pronounced "ass-fault" and I have never heard it any other way.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Mar 13 - 02:34 PM

Ewan then used it as the basis of a song in his "Song Of A Road" Radio Ballad, about the building of the first Motorway; whence presumably the attribution to him mentioned above. I remember its being most admirably sung by Seamus Ennis.

~M~

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Mar 13 - 01:51 PM

Yes - the main thread is THIS ONE

Not a McCall original, though he had a version from his father, alright.

Regards

p.s. Care needed with spelling of "asphalt" and variants!

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Mar 13 - 01:42 PM

There's lots of detail on the origins of this song on Mudcat - hang on and I'll find the thread.

Regards

Subject: Origins: The Hot Ashphalt
From: Bob the shantyman
Date: 27 Mar 13 - 01:39 PM

I have been trying to find the original version of this song and it was creditted to Ewan McColl, which seems perfectly natural, but there is a version done by The Dubliners that is very different. Was that by McColl too, or was another writer at work?