Pronunciation watch

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Fred or Bert?

Ooh! Good point - I was thinking of Bert.

[ardcarp]

There's a famous family called Stein
There's Gert, there's Ep, and there's Ein.
Gert's prose is all bunk
Ep's sculptures are junk
And no-one can understand Ein

Brilliant. One to add to my Limerick collection...and a clean one to boot.

[french frank]

Ooh! Good point - I was thinking of Bert.

If there was anywhere where Bert was taken for Fred it would be here, I suppose (I did too).

[Pabmusic]

Different point: I've recently learned from his 1st cousin (who knew his 'Uncle Alick' - George's father - well) that George Butterworth's second given name was always pronounced in the French way - George Sainton (Santohn-ish) Kaye Butterworth. Makes sense as he was named for the wife of Prosper Sainton, who was French. But No-one on the radio or TV seems to know it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

For the last fortnight, I've been staying in a Somerset hamlet called Rodhuish. Does anyone know how pronounce it?

[Serial_Apologist]

For the last fortnight, I've been staying in a Somerset hamlet called Rodhuish. Does anyone know how pronounce it?

Shhhhh - don't let the locals know!

[Padraig]

I'd guess Raw-ish in keeping with Irish pronunciation (approx). How do they pronounce it there?

[french frank]

For the last fortnight, I've been staying in a Somerset hamlet called Rodhuish. Does anyone know how pronounce it?

Rod(h)ewish?

[Pabmusic]

Rod(h)ewish?

I found a site devoted to pronunciations of place names, which reckons your pronunciation (with the aitch) and 'roddish' are both acceptable. Presumably the latter is more common among older local folk.

This reminds me of Shrewsbury - 'Shrows-' or 'Shrews-'? (Answer, either) But almost without exception older local folk say 'Shoosbry'.

[french frank]

I found a site devoted to pronunciations of place names, which reckons your pronunciation (with the aitch) and 'roddish' are both acceptable. Presumably the latter is more common among older local folk.

I would say Roddhewish (as if it were two words), but I suppose the h might drop is you were speaking quickly. When I was small there was a village which we called Coomsbury (spelt Congresbury); but I think incomers have prevailed and it's now Cong(r)sbury.

[vinteuil]

When I was small there was a village which we called Coomsbury (spelt Congresbury); but I think incomers have prevailed and it's now Cong(r)sbury.

... yes, it's often the case when people learn to read - an increased tendency to pronounce words according to their spelling.


/

[Pabmusic]

I would say Roddhewish (as if it were two words), but I suppose the h might drop is you were speaking quickly. When I was small there was a village which we called Coomsbury (spelt Congresbury); but I think incomers have prevailed and it's now Cong(r)sbury.

There's a village near Andover named Wherewell, which is generally pronounced (nowadays) as spelt. But'n oi'r lad, 'twere Wurl, with the 'rl' drawn out to contain several sounds over two syllables.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There's a village near Andover named Wherewell, which is generally pronounced (nowadays) as spelt. But'n oi'r lad, 'twere Wurl, with the 'rl' drawn out to contain several sounds over two syllables.

So not unlike "Wirral"?

[Pabmusic]

So not unlike "Wirral"?

I suppose not, as long as there's a deep 'clearing the throat' quality to it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The estate agent's coming here tomorrow, so I'll ask how the locals pronounce Rodhuish. I favour FF's suggestion, but I heard someone say "Roddish" when at nearby Dunster Castle.