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Post by humgoo on Jun 9, 2019 17:15:22 GMT
Hello! How do you pronounce the surname Ager as in William Ager, the good loyal guardian of the crown in MRJ's tale who never forgets or forgives? Both Clive Swift (Doctor Black) and Christopher Lee pronounce it with a hard g, while Michael Hordern says it with a soft g. Both of them are used? I'm not from the English-speaking world so it's a bit difficult for me to ascertain these things. Thanks for any advice!
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Jun 9, 2019 17:48:29 GMT
I'm not from the English-speaking world so it's a bit difficult for me to ascertain these things. I think the problem is rather that in English there is little or no systematic connection between how things are written and how they are pronounced. Unlike, say, Italian, where if you see a new word you immediately know how it is pronounced, even if you do not know what it means. (I am currently trying to learn Italian.) |
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Post by ropardoe on Jun 10, 2019 8:28:36 GMT
I'm not from the English-speaking world so it's a bit difficult for me to ascertain these things. I think the problem is rather that in English there is little or no systematic connection between how things are written and how they are pronounced. Unlike, say, Italian, where if you see a new word you immediately know how it is pronounced, even if you do not know what it means. (I am currently trying to learn Italian.) I think it's Ager with a hard 'g', otherwise it sounds weird to me. But what we really need is someone whose surname is Ager to tell us. Given how many Agers there were in East Anglia when MRJ lived there, I assume there must be a number of descendants around now. I speak as one, incidentally, whose surname often gets mispronounced, especially by Americans. |
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Post by Swampirella on Jun 10, 2019 10:00:38 GMT
I think the problem is rather that in English there is little or no systematic connection between how things are written and how they are pronounced. Unlike, say, Italian, where if you see a new word you immediately know how it is pronounced, even if you do not know what it means. (I am currently trying to learn Italian.) I think it's Ager with a hard 'g', otherwise it sounds weird to me. But what we really need is someone whose surname is Ager to tell us. Given how many Agers there were in East Anglia when MRJ lived there, I assume there must be a number of descendants around now. I speak as one, incidentally, whose surname often gets mispronounced, especially by Americans. I agree with you on the Ager pronunciation, for what it's worth. But I'm now compelled to ask how your surname is pronounced! It's always seemed straightforward, but now I wonder.... |
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Jun 10, 2019 10:56:51 GMT
But I'm now compelled to ask how your surname is pronounced! It's always seemed straightforward, but now I wonder.... It is actually pronounced "Throatwobbler Mangrove." |
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Post by helrunar on Jun 10, 2019 15:45:32 GMT
Hi Rosemary, I've always thought your surname was pronounced PAR-doe (to rhyme with the Tibetan word bardo). Is that wrong?
Best wishes,
Steve
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Post by Swampirella on Jun 10, 2019 16:20:19 GMT
Hi Rosemary, I've always thought your surname was pronounced PAR-doe (to rhyme with the Tibetan word bardo). Is that wrong? Best wishes, Steve That's just what I thought! Or is it pronounced to rhyme with "Bardot"?  |
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Post by helrunar on Jun 10, 2019 16:43:03 GMT
Bardot is pronounced same as Bardo--final t is silent (as Margot Lady Oxford would have said). (This is in reference to an ancient joke--Margot was touring Hollywood in the 1930s and Jean Harlow kept calling her MarGOTT. "My dear," her visitor informed the great star with frosty exactitude, "the t is silent. As in Harlow."
H.
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Post by Swampirella on Jun 10, 2019 16:47:27 GMT
Bardot is pronounced same as Bardo--final t is silent (as Margot Lady Oxford would have said). (This is in reference to an ancient joke--Margot was touring Hollywood in the 1930s and Jean Harlow kept calling her MarGOTT. "My dear," her visitor informed the great star with frosty exactitude, "the t is silent. As in Harlow." H. LOL! Thanks for the funny anecdote, Steve!
I thought "bardo " was pronounced with an emphasis on the first syllable, whereas "Bardot" was on the second. How much longer is Ms. Pardoe going to keep us in suspense while we squabble over which words rhyme with her surname?  |
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Post by helrunar on Jun 10, 2019 17:14:37 GMT
Oh yes Swampi, you're right about the syllabic stress in Bardot! My mistake!
I need to get a nice "new" Sixties horror paperback to read on one of my trips this Summer. Need to rummage around on the board to look for ideas!
Best, Steve
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Post by Swampirella on Jun 10, 2019 17:29:49 GMT
Oh yes Swampi, you're right about the syllabic stress in Bardot! My mistake! I need to get a nice "new" Sixties horror paperback to read on one of my trips this Summer. Need to rummage around on the board to look for ideas! Best, Steve I'm sure you'll find a plethora of ideas; let us (ok, me, at least) know which one(s) you choose! |
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elricc
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 100
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Post by elricc on Jun 10, 2019 18:08:35 GMT
I think the problem is rather that in English there is little or no systematic connection between how things are written and how they are pronounced. Unlike, say, Italian, where if you see a new word you immediately know how it is pronounced, even if you do not know what it means. (I am currently trying to learn Italian.) I think it's Ager with a hard 'g', otherwise it sounds weird to me. But what we really need is someone whose surname is Ager to tell us. Given how many Agers there were in East Anglia when MRJ lived there, I assume there must be a number of descendants around now. I speak as one, incidentally, whose surname often gets mispronounced, especially by Americans. i taught at a high school in Leiston, just up the road from Aldeburgh for a number of years, there were Agers, with a hard G and pronounced A, I also had a Paxton. |
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Post by ropardoe on Jun 11, 2019 8:31:38 GMT
Hi Rosemary, I've always thought your surname was pronounced PAR-doe (to rhyme with the Tibetan word bardo). Is that wrong? Best wishes, Steve Sorry, I'd buggered off and forgotten that I'd left this question unanswered. No, you've got it absolutely right - emphasis on the first syllable. But a lot of Americans (and a few others), pronounce it ParDOE. |
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Post by ropardoe on Jun 11, 2019 8:32:38 GMT
I think it's Ager with a hard 'g', otherwise it sounds weird to me. But what we really need is someone whose surname is Ager to tell us. Given how many Agers there were in East Anglia when MRJ lived there, I assume there must be a number of descendants around now. I speak as one, incidentally, whose surname often gets mispronounced, especially by Americans. i taught at a high school in Leiston, just up the road from Aldeburgh for a number of years, there were Agers, with a hard G and pronounced A, I also had a Paxton. That's conclusive, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks. |
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Post by humgoo on Jun 11, 2019 16:15:51 GMT
Thank you all! That settles it. And elricc, I hope the Agers and the Paxton get on famously!
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