Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-04
CURIOUS PRONUNCIATION.
Peculiar Rendering of Some English
Proper Names.

FUN
We usually laugh at the foreigners efforts
| to master the pronunciation of our mother
tongue. but most of US are not without
| doubt when we come to pronounce certain
proper nouns. Any number OF surnames and
geographical names receives as many as
four different renderings, and 1t is quite
| impossible to persuade anyone that his or
her way is not the correct one Some sur
| names are so maltreated as to be quite un-
| recognizable from the spelling. No wonder
| the average individual finds an English die
| tionary Indispensable.
Probably the most remarkable quartet are
Colquhoun, Marjoribanks, Cholmondeley
and Bagehot. They look much less inn
pressive when spelt as pronounced-Cohoon.
Marshbanks. Chumley and Bajot. Phonetic
spelling deprives many names OF their ter
| rors. That awful name Geoghegan would
! become simply Gagan. Ruthven would be
Riven and Cockburn Koburn.
Some people are much annoyed IL they
are not addressed in their own special way.
Mr.. St. John likes to be called Sinjin. but
as geographical term he does not mind
YOU saying Saint John Anstruther is doubt
full, but often shortens into Anster. The
Macs also are very susceptible regarding
their surnames. If you want to be friends
with MLeod and Maclean. call them Max
loud and Maklane. and if you have inten-
lions regarding Mr.. Strachan's daughter.
don't call him Strakan II you value your
W
intentions you must address Beauclerk as
Beauclare and Beauvoir as Beevor.
In case you ever move in ambasSadorial
circles or make friends on the Riviera
don't forget that the Baron de Longuevile
is called Loneveal Monsieur St Cyr Will
answer you if you say Sanseer. and Strous
would be good rendering of the name Of
the eminent composer of waltzeS. Mark
yarvelee will be as near as you can get TO
Machiavell but possibly you may be able
to avoid this distinguished parsonage.
A couple of Saints" are rather puzzling.
St. Clark should be rendered Sinclair. and
IL you would win a smile of approval pro-
nounce st. Leger Sellinger. or Selleger.
There is no need to look up Beauchamp;
NOUS maker of pills. Duchesne has such
an awe-inspiring appearance Ii Is pity we
must pronounce it Dukarn. Heathcote is
shortened into Hethcut and Dillwyn has
quite an Irish haYor when pronounced
Dillon.
Duauesnes is not so difficult as 1t looks.
Dekane would pass muster. and you may
also come across Dekann. Regarding Char
teris and Sandys you will win approval in
high society if you stick to Charters and
Sands; and those individuals known as
Jervis, Berkeley and Derby like to hear the
first ''e" turned into 'ah." Why, 1t Is diff
cult to say.
Spare a welshman's feelings by saying
Aberganny, and not Abergavenny, and, IL
possible. don't attempt to pronounce
AmlWch. If you are English ii is beyond
YOU fairly successful way Is to start
with Am" and leave the rest to luck
If you are going to Dolgelly for your holi-
DAYS, ask for ticket to Dolgethly, and IL
you are a cyclist. don't inquire the way to
Llanelly. II you do you will probably never
get there The rustic would bite at
Lanethly however.
Don't think of some diminutive maiden
when you speak of Wemyss: call 1t Weems.
and YOU may be taken for a Scotsman. and
IL you are over the border. don't forget that
Kirkcudbright is pronounced Kurcoobree.
The celebrated news agency Is called
Rioters not Rooters. and the producer Of
five-finger exercises for budding musicians
Czerny-is called Chernee. That famous
Italian. Boccaccio. was simply known as
Bok-kar-cho. not half SO disturbing as the
number of "c's" would suggest.