Words which are pronounced differently from how they're spelt
Being a linguist, it's only to be expected I should be interested in this: it's mostly proper names, but there's an endless array of words in the English language which, by rights, shouldn't be pronounced how they are.
With some, it seems to be a case of one-upmanship (just so that someone can look down their nose at you in a "you really ought to know better than that" way): Penicuik, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is pronounced "penny-cook", while Glasgow has Milngavie, pronounced "mullguy". Then there are names like Featherstone (Fawnshaw) and the one pronounced Chumley, which is spelt something like Cholmondely.
If you really want to test yourself though, have a look at The Chaos. Best to read it out loud: it's an absolute beast, even for native speakers ...
With some, it seems to be a case of one-upmanship (just so that someone can look down their nose at you in a "you really ought to know better than that" way): Penicuik, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, is pronounced "penny-cook", while Glasgow has Milngavie, pronounced "mullguy". Then there are names like Featherstone (Fawnshaw) and the one pronounced Chumley, which is spelt something like Cholmondely.
If you really want to test yourself though, have a look at The Chaos. Best to read it out loud: it's an absolute beast, even for native speakers ...
posted by Anthony at
02:20
2 Comments:
Bonjoir my darling....well finally got onto ur Blogger... very "interesting" read!
So anyway missing you loads huny...hope ur had fun wit the parents!....btb liked ur descriptions of a. the pigeons and b. the people whoshope at HMV...how come no mention of that strange guy who comes in all the time...sean i seem to recall his name was....anyway...gtg...love ya xxxxx
By
Anonymous, at 21/4/05 21:48
Ah, but Sean's one of the nice ones ... They don't make for such interesting reading!
By
Anthony, at 22/4/05 08:40
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