Scapa Flow - ponunciation - Scappa or Scarpa

[pvb]

And don't mention Happisburgh!

 

[NormanS]

The truth is that you can ponounce (sic) it any way you like. Generally the natives will be too polite to correct you.

Would you like the Worcestershire Sauce, Captain Mainwaring?

 

[Robert Wilson]

And don't mention Happisburgh!

That one caught me out last June. I received a few corrective remarks when I pronounced it "as spelt". How ON EARTH do you get that local pronunciation???????

 

[Ludd]

I was totally confused by the Berlitz German -English phrasebook, which used the ignorant intrusive "r" and the "silent r".
i feel it's a pity that other races speak English more clearly than the English.
Not surprising ,really, that they have no respect for pronunciations of other languages. That said Mr, Weenter IS a journalist-----

 

[pvb]

That one caught me out last June. I received a few corrective remarks when I pronounced it "as spelt". How ON EARTH do you get that local pronunciation???????

Norfolk, isn't it? Nothing should surprise you...

 

[JumbleDuck]

I was totally confused by the Berlitz German -English phrasebook, which used the ignorant intrusive "r" and the "silent r".
i feel it's a pity that other races speak English more clearly than the English.

The English speak English in many, many different ways. Rhotic and non-rhotic, for a relevant start.

 

[NormanS]

The English speak English in many, many different ways. Rhotic and non-rhotic, for a relevant start.

Yes, but that refers to R's that are already there, and whether they are pronounced or not. Surely that's not the same as pronouncing a nonexistent R.

 

[Neeves]

The English speak English in many, many different ways. Rhotic and non-rhotic, for a relevant start.

I assume by 'The English' you refer to Welsh, Irish and Scots as well?

Jonathan

 

[Robert Wilson]

Norfolk, isn't it? Nothing should surprise you...

:encouragement:

 

[JumbleDuck]

I assume by 'The English' you refer to Welsh, Irish and Scots as well?

No. I was replying to a post about "the English".

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes, but that refers to R's that are already there, and whether they are pronounced or not. Surely that's not the same as pronouncing a nonexistent R.

It all depends on what you mean by "existent". Is the pronunciation or the spelling definitive on the matter?

 

[NormanS]

It all depends on what you mean by "existent". Is the pronunciation or the spelling definitive on the matter?

Now we're getting back to the intrusive R. But you're getting the idea(r).

 

[dylanwinter]

it seems that, in the pursuit of accuracy, one can easily step over the line marked "pretentious".

To hear an old Englishman attempting to mimic the intonations of the locals would be ludicrous.

I am pleased that the jury seems to be out on the pronunciation of Scapa.

I am minded to keep the intrusive R for the next film which will include Hoy, wrecks, submarines, Italian POWs and that remarkable chapel.

D

 

[awol]

To hear an old Englishman attempting to mimic the intonations of the locals would be ludicrous.

So that's why the English are notoriously monolinguists. Someone should tell them that Johnny Foreigner finds them ludicrous anyway

 

[dylanwinter]

So that's why the English are notoriously monolinguists. Someone should tell them that Johnny Foreigner finds them ludicrous anyway

I sincerely apologise on behalf of all ludicrous Englishmen

D

 

[JumbleDuck]

Now we're getting back to the intrusive R. But you're getting the idea(r).

That's a good example. Should it be "idear", from which some people omit the "r" or "idea" to which some people append an "r". Does it matter? An adders used to be a nadder (it is still ein Natter in Germany) and an apron was a napron (the French still have small pieces of cloth called naperons) until the "n" wandered off and joined the "a".

You get this in places names a lot; very similar ones often cluster together and are probably the result of different cartographers writing down the same word from an unfamiliar accent in different ways. For example, in Milton Keynes you can find "Walton", "Woughton", "Woolstone" and "Willen" in a small cluster.

So what is the right name? The one that's written or the one that was written or the one that's spoken or the one that was spoken? When I was at university there was a nearby town called "Sister". Now it's "Sirensester". People used to call the county town of Shropshire "Shrewsbury" (with an "ew" as in "flew"), except people in Shropshire who called it "Shrowsbury", except people in the town itself who called it "Shrewsbury".

Does it really matter? As long as Dylan makes a reasonable approximation and points where necessary he'll be fine.

 

[duncan99210]

Sisister is the correct localised pronunciation IIRC, not sister. I'll get me coat.

 

[LittleSister]

There are arguments for and against both pronunciations, scarper and scappa. Either will be understood. The really important thing, mind, is to pronounce the 'Flow' bit to rhyme with plough, rather than though.

 

[dylanwinter]

There are arguments for and against both pronunciations, scarper and scappa. Either will be understood. The really important thing, mind, is to pronounce the 'Flow' bit to rhyme with plough, rather than though.

oh bollocks!

D

 

[seadog30]

Hi Dylan

Loved the fillum.

r or no r ?, probably ok either way however Don't roll your R's you might get arrested !!.

Regards