You say tackle, I say...

[suffolklass]

So, I've been reading Tom Cunliffe's Day Skipper book, and came across something which is unbelievably minor but now driving me insane.

I've always pronounced the word tackle In the phrase 'block and tackle' as it's spelt - same way you would a tackle in rugby or whatever. But in his glossary Cunliffe says it's pronounced 'taykul' (as opposed to ground tackle which he says is pronounced as you'd expect). I've never heard anyone pronounce it that way, but then I'm not sure I've ever really heard anyone use it in conversation anyway

So, my question is, how do you pronounce the word in the phrase ' block and tackle'? Would you sound pretentious if you pronounced it 'taykul' or would you sound ignorant if you pronounced it 'tackle'? Educate me!

Bonus points if you say where you're from in case there's regional variation.

 

[ithet]

Just consider yourself lucky it's in the glossary! Tom has a habit of throwing in antiquated terms without definition. That's why I find his technical books and pilots can be hard going. Love his anecdotal stuff though.

I pronounce as per your rugby example.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

A skipper that I worked for pronounced it taykul, but I always have pronounced it as tackle, and the skipper did not seem to care. Both the skipper and I are from Glasgow.

 

[Poignard]

Depends who I was talking to.

To a seafarer I would say tayckle. To a mere landsman, I would say tackle.

To a southerner I suppose I should say tarckle

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

My maternal grandfather was from Southend and a plasterer by trade. I seem to remember him mentioning a "block'n'taykul' in some story about an incident on site. Edit; I should add that this was an effect of his general accent and not an affected pronunciation of the word in question.

 

[tillergirl]

Ah. I have never it heard 'Block and Taykle' but I have hear 'Taykle' used frequently by itself.

I hope you know that in Essexland one particular taykle is called a Suffolkman whereas in Suffolkland it is called an Essexman. The Suffolkman was a sort of relieving taykle on a barge.

And a test for you. How do you spell 'Thirslet' .... Thurslet, Thirsthlet, Thurstlet etc. And a list (as in the boat is leaning over) is pronounced 'lust'. It's all simples.

 

[earlybird]

If I were buying from Machine Mart, I'd defo go for short "a". Otherwise expect odd looks'
In marine context, although probably traditionally correct, I think I'd shy away from "taykul" anyway on grounds of pretension.

 

[suffolklass]

Ah. I have never it heard 'Block and Taykle' but I have hear 'Taykle' used frequently by itself.

I hope you know that in Essexland one particular taykle is called a Suffolkman whereas in Suffolkland it is called an Essexman. The Suffolkman was a sort of relieving taykle on a barge.

And a test for you. How do you spell 'Thirslet' .... Thurslet, Thirsthlet, Thurstlet etc. And a list (as in the boat is leaning over) is pronounced 'lust'. It's all simples.

Well, I was born and grew up in Suffolk but with northern parents (although they don't have obvious northern accents) and I now live in Yorkshire, so pretty much guaranteed to be permanently confused

 

[suffolklass]

From early responses it sounds as if the phrase might be better avoided in conversation unless the other person mentions it first...

 

[westhinder]

Lots of English nautical terms seem to originate in ancient or medieval Dutch or have common origins. The Dutch equivalent for tackle is takel, which is pronounced 'taakel' with a long vowel, so this could indicate the taykel pronunciation may be older than 'tackel'
This is what I have found on the etymology of takel:
www.etymologiebank.nl › trefwoord › takel
earliest mention in 1396, originally a medieval Dutch word, later borrowed in English, German, Scandinavian languages

 

[RichardS]

I'm familiar with the block and tackle from the engineering and construction industry and it's definitely the normal pronunciation.

I suspect that the marine industry has stolen the concept from engineering (the Pharaohs and Druids perhaps?) and changed it to make it special so they could charge more.

Richard

 

[tillergirl]

Ah Dutchland. Didn't a Dutch King invade our country? He obvously decided to 'taykle' our country.

 

[prv]

The elderly gent we bought our previous boat from said "taykul" - the only person I've ever heard do so.

I say "tackle".

Pete

 

[Irish Rover]

Could someone please tell a near illiterate Paddy how to pronounce "taykul".

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Could someone please tell a near illiterate Paddy how to pronounce "taykul".

The River Tay, Skull: Tay kull. Maybe think of Schull in County Cork which I think is pronounced Skull.

 

[TernVI]

My maternal grandfather was from Southend and a plasterer by trade. I seem to remember him mentioning a "block'n'taykul' in some story about an incident on site.

Blocks and tackle are more building site termniology than seafaring these days.
What kind of a tackle only has one block anyway?

Change it for a handy billy. Ur some other purchase....

 

[penberth3]

Blocks and tackle are more building site termniology than seafaring these days.
What kind of a tackle only has one block anyway?

Change it for a handy billy. Ur some other purchase....

How about Block and Tangle?

 

[Poignard]

Blocks and tackle are more building site termniology than seafaring these days.
What kind of a tackle only has one block anyway?

Change it for a handy billy. Ur some other purchase....

 

[JumbleDuck]

So, my question is, how do you pronounce the word in the phrase ' block and tackle'? Would you sound pretentious if you pronounced it 'taykul' or would you sound ignorant if you pronounced it 'tackle'? Educate me!

Tack'll.

"Taykle" sounds like something you'd hear from one of Old Harry's gaffer-owning acquaintances.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Lots of English nautical terms seem to originate in ancient or medieval Dutch or have common origins. The Dutch equivalent for tackle is takel, which is pronounced 'taakel' with a long vowel, so this could indicate the taykel pronunciation may be older than 'tackel'
This is what I have found on the etymology of takel:
www.etymologiebank.nl › trefwoord › takel
earliest mention in 1396, originally a medieval Dutch word, later borrowed in English, German, Scandinavian languages

Here's the OED take (or tack) on it: