The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-07-08
WHOLE NO. 1886.
From the NJ Y. Courier and Enquirer.
To the Editeurs of Ia gazette Courier and
Enquirer.

From the ": Y. Courier and Enquirer.
10 the Editeurs Of Ia gazette Courier and
Enquirer.
| !HeSSaemS Me never have see some
queer contree like dis De language do
very much trouble me in his Pronunciation.
| shall tell you. Ven me embark in Bor
| deau Tor IAmerlque, no very well UNDER
stand de English. De capitaine tell me, he
is Won language which can learn too easv.
and he promise to give me any lessons on de
voyage. So, ven came on de board, saw.
Capltaine, how you call in English, Won
vessel, bdtiment?" De capitaine he reply
me, sheep" Ell bien, yer well we shall
see. | say Won day to de cook, vat de sail
Tors call docteer, ".Monsieur lie Medicin how
you call &c pitt morceau de bois, dis lit piece
OF de wood which is applicable for to make
say fe Fe lie say gG R as h e make no
odd whether de wood be a small piece or a
grand quantity, for it is all sheep. So, to-
let de capitaine apperceve dat yer we'll
learn de English, say him, "Capitaine, in
your contree de wood is Sheep" "No," he
reply me, 1T is very dear; but you do not
pronounce de word correctly-you should
say, cheap" l remark him, az not can
make discovery of any difference in de pro-
nonce." He reply me, L" you pronounce all
de same as de sheep de mouton, whereas
there is much difference" And so, Mes
sieurs Editeurs, | was very much embar-
rasse for whether de word was spell shin
or chip, or cheap or s-h-e-e-p it have
to me all de same pronunciation. But new
er mind. 1t is not possible for me to COM
predre Won language witch have no rules for
de pronounce and | will tell you, Messieurs,
oF do ofbar M ST. Lo into ,Y,1,1 co1
down. l reasoned in myself in dis way.
If words which are spelled differently have
de same pronunciation, it is not possible but
dat de words terminating wild de same let
lers will be pronounced in de same way.
But we shall see.
After me arrive in Philadelphia, Won day
me take a promenade wild one gentlemans
up de streets of de Valnuts, and ven ar
rive at de corner of de Six-street, say to
my friend, "let US go hr1tf de square of
Washington" My friend he not can stand
under me, and he ask me to make repetition
of vat | say. l tell him dat, con my voy-
age from la France, de capitaine of de ves-
sci say, "de sea is ruff" and as find in
de dictionary dat de word ruff is spelled
Rough. | have adept de same prononeia-
ton for de word t-h-r-o-u-g-h." MY friend
he tell me dat | make mistake, and dat I
should say throo Ell bien, yer well. On
same day me dine at Won large partie of de
ladies' and gentlemens and Won Monsieur,
who was cutting Won yer delicious ham,
lambon) ask me if | would be help to piece,
and on witch side would have it. an
swer, "Sair, if you please, on de side next
de hoo" All de companie Immediately look
after me, and some young lady have YER
much de appearance to laugh but no can
tell for vat. At length polite gentlemans
who sat near me, whisper me softly, and
say, Monsieur, pdrdOnaez MOI, but you
have make Won slight erreur in votre pro-
onciation-h-o-u-g- is pronounce hook"
Vat shall do? l vas mortify severely, to
appear so ignorant in de good society, and
resolve to regain my reputation. So,
say to Won lady opposite to me on de table,
Madame, dis pastry is made of de very
white dock" She look to me vid astonish-
ment. All de rest of de companie regard
me, and feel very much bushful. "Dockp %
say one" Dock! !" say anoder. Dey sup
pose, probabtement, dat would say duck. |
den explain. Say |, "d-o-u-g-h, do it not
pronounce dock )" sob no." say all de lady,
sit is pronounced doe" Ell bien. We
try it again. l say to Won oder lady
" Madame, you have yer disagreeable
ko." She no comprehend me. l repeat
d" Madame, you have Won very ugly ko."
She no understand. den say in French,
tour. "Oh, Monsieur means kof," say Won
of de gentlemens, (which is de prononcia-
ton of c-O-u-g-h." 1t appears to me as if
nonciation. But never mind, say l.; if
make mistake, it is de language vat is to
blame, and not me. So l make other at
tempt. say to yon gentlemens, dis meat
is not tof." He reply me, Monsieur,
t-o-u-g-h is pronounced fuG" Here again [
find myself where l start; and l am quite
sure dat de capitaine of de ship have de
true pronunciation, and dat de oder person
make joke of me.
But ma joi vas performe Won great mis-
take for Won other day vas to take walk
on horseback promenade a cheual,) in de
contree, when saw in a field a man at
work. Say to de man, "Vell, my friend,
how many acre can you pIuf in day 90
He look at me wild an air of great stupidity,
and ask me, "Sair, | no stand under YOU"
say, "Do you not call dat machine Won
pluU?" He reply, "No, Sair, we call it a
plo,c." And it is spelet p-I-o-u-g-h. Vat
shall do To be thought so ignorant of
de English Pronunciation by common pluG.
man, vas too much for me to carry. So, to
save my character, say to de man, Sair,
will you permit my horse to take drink out
Of your trO,c ?" He answer me, " Sar, you
mean tro0." 1t is spelet trough.
Messieurs Editeurs, it is enof to try de
patience of saint horoGy, TO make so
many mistake. l am almost in de despair.
| do not know what shall | do. fear
will not learn de English linguage, although
am so DESTROYS to make acquisition of it,
Do favor me with your admonition, and
obige
Votre servteur, PERE la CHASE.
Philadelphia, juno 20, 1929.