The Pronunciation Thread

[Dogtrousers]

Not pronunciation, but Barnsley related. When I was at school Barnsley Hall was the local mental hospital. We had no idea that there was a town somewhere called Barnsley. Why would we? "You should be in Barnsley" meant you should be locked up. "Barnsley" was verging on a swearword.

Then along came a geography teacher, not from the area, who asked "Why are there so many coal mines around Barnsley?" This was met with giggling and confusion. One kid came up with a possible answer: "Is it because there are enough people mad enough to go down them?"

 

[Illaveago]

Not pronunciation, but Barnsley related. When I was at school Barnsley Hall was the local mental hospital. We had no idea that there was a town somewhere called Barnsley. Why would we? "You should be in Barnsley" meant you should be locked up. "Barnsley" was verging on a swearword.

Then along came a geography teacher, not from the area, who asked "Why are there so many coal mines around Barnsley?" This was met with giggling and confusion. One kid came up with a possible answer: "Is it because there are enough people mad enough to go down them?"

Ours was Devizes a town 12 miles away but the actual hospital was at Roundway near Devizes.

Roundway was where during the Civil war a cavalry charge ended up with them going over the end of a very steep drop resulting in a lot of them being killed.

 

[DaveReading]

Roundway was where during the Civil war a cavalry charge ended up with them going over the end of a very steep drop resulting in a lot of them being killed.

Many from both sides were killed when they fell into what became known as "the Bloody Ditch".

 

[Accy cyclist]

What are po'holes?🤔 I ask sarcastically as I know what they are, even if most newsreaders, radio/tv presenters etc refuse to put a t in potholes!! 🧐

 

[Alex321]

What are po'holes?🤔 I ask sarcastically as I know what they are, even if most newsreaders, radio/tv presenters etc refuse to put a t in potholes!! 🧐

When you say "most", I resume you mean those on your local TV/Radio stations.

I don't think I have ever heard that. It is actually harder to say than to say it with the t.

 

[Accy cyclist]

When you say "most", I resume you mean those on your local TV/Radio stations.

I don't think I have ever heard that. It is actually harder to say than to say it with the t.

Yes, it is harder to say when you drop the t. Maybe not most newsreaders, radio/tv presenters etc drop it, I don't know. I'm going off some Talk TV presenters and guests saying po'holes, which I find really irritating. One kept saying it so much the other day that I had to turn the volume down till she'd gone off my screen. I wouldn't mind so much if they dropped the h, pronouncing it pot'oles, but that po' bit really grates me!

 

[C R]

Yes, it is harder to say when you drop the t. Maybe not most newsreaders, radio/tv presenters etc drop it, I don't know. I'm going off some Talk TV presenters and guests saying po'holes, which I find really irritating. One kept saying it so much the other day that I had to turn the volume down till she'd gone off my screen. I wouldn't mind so much if they dropped the h, pronouncing it pot'oles, but that po' bit really grates me!

I've highlighted your problem. No presenter in a proper TV channel or radio station does that.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

Had to turn to another channel on the TV a few moments ago after some woman kept putting an r at the end of saw!

It one that really irritates me.

 

[C R]

Had to turn to another channel on the TV a few moments ago after some woman kept putting an r at the end of saw!

It one that really irritates me.

That and drawring instead of drawing.

 

[Alex321]

Yes, it is harder to say when you drop the t. Maybe not most newsreaders, radio/tv presenters etc drop it, I don't know. I'm going off some Talk TV presenters and guests saying po'holes, which I find really irritating. One kept saying it so much the other day that I had to turn the volume down till she'd gone off my screen. I wouldn't mind so much if they dropped the h, pronouncing it pot'oles, but that po' bit really grates me!

I can't imagine voluntarily watching anything on Talk TV, so that might explain why my experience is different to yours.

 

[simongt]

A recent post on Faceache insisted that 'one' and 'won' aren't homophones. When I challenged her for evidence, she responded 'my ears'.

 

[simongt]

For a very well researched book on the etymology of English, Bill Bryson's book 'The Mother Tongue' take a lot of beating.
A lot of surprises, a very entertaining read and proves beyond doubt that pretty much for every 'rule', there's an exception - !

 

[Dogtrousers]

A recent post on Faceache insisted that 'one' and 'won' aren't homophones. When I challenged her for evidence, she responded 'my ears'.

I guess she one the argument.

 

[Electric_Andy]

A recent post on Faceache insisted that 'one' and 'won' aren't homophones. When I challenged her for evidence, she responded 'my ears'.

I'm trying to imagine a regional accent where one and won sound different, but I can't

 

[Drago]

I'm trying to imagine a regional accent where one and won sound different, but I can't

The original yokel Darling Buds East Kent accent pronounced one as "waan". Not many such folk left now I should think, but spending school holidays there as boy with my Grandad I remember the locals like that.

My workday accent is the one I acquired at public school (few would,d understand if I slipped into Shetlandic) and would pronounce won as wun.