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November 7, 2005

Volume 8, Issue 7

“We are, of course, once again face to face with the perennial question of Daventry and all the storm that its pronunciation raises in the teacups of the curious.”

- an excerpt from Broadcast English 2: Recommendations to Announcers Regarding the Pronunciation of Some English Place Names, Collected and Transcribed for the BBC Advisory Committee on Spoken English by A Lloyd Jones, published 1930.

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Comments

The locals will tell you that the city of Daventry, nestled snugly inside Northamptonshire, is a mysterious place of foreboding dread. A town so mired in pagan mysticism and evil magic that few know exactly how to reach it. All who venture there are lost, never to return.

“Sure,” the locals said. “You could take the A45 West out of Northampton and drive for about 15 kilometers. But, unless you’re keen on werewolves and the like, why would you want to? Are you so eager to join the legions of the damned?”

I suspect the locals do not like tourists.

Posted by: Jim Parkinson at November 7, 2005 7:58 AM · Permalink

What? No duck? Come on, he quacks me up.

Posted by: hnumpah at November 7, 2005 12:29 PM · Permalink

"It's Loo-ee!"
"No, it's Loo-iss!"
"Loo-ee!"
"Loo-iss!"
"Loo-..."
My wife woke from her nap in the passenger seat and twisted around to face the twins. "WHAT are you two arguing about NOW?" she demanded.
"We're trying to figure out how to pronounce the capital of Kentucky," Bert replied.
"Yeah, is it Loo-ee-ville or Loo-iss-ville?" Bart asked.
"The 'i' is pronounced like the 'i' in 'it', and the 's' is silent," my wife hissed. "Loo-i-ville." She turned back around and faced forward.
"Uh, dear, there's just one problem," I ventured.
"What now?" she asked.
"The capital of Kentucky is Frankfort."

Posted by: hnumpah at November 7, 2005 1:12 PM · Permalink

Sorry, hnumpah. I guess the topic wasn't fowl enough for the duck.

Anyway, he's been acting a little moody the last few days. All surly and emotional. I think it's PMS (Pre-Migrational Syndrome).

Besides, there's no way I'm going to top the brilliant way you fit that old joke so well into today's topic! Good one! Here's a +1 for you!

Posted by: Jim Parkinson at November 7, 2005 1:47 PM · Permalink

Thankee kindly.

Here's hoping he gets back to feeling just ducky. I hope it's not the bird flu I hear is going around.

Posted by: hnumpah at November 7, 2005 9:09 PM · Permalink

Bird flu? Big deal. That's just what they do.

Best,
Mr. P.

Posted by: Mr. Parx at November 8, 2005 6:34 AM · Permalink