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Archiver > CHANNEL-ISLANDS > 1997-10 > 0876940778


From: brian read <>
Subject: Pronunciation
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 11:39:38 -0700


Don Weston wrote from NZ:
> Are there any 'works' on the pronunciation of Channel Island surnames?

No, I don't think so. It's a difficult area. Some CI names are pronounced
in an English way, but other are pronounced as in French. Some names are
pronounced in a different way by indigenous people who live "in the
country" (i.e. about 5-8 miles from the town of St Helier) and those
brought up in the town.

It is usually only the people who were at school there, or who have lived
there for some time that know instinctively how a name is pronounced.

Examples: Voisin, Gaudin (two big shops in the town) pronounced as if
English rhyming with 'poison' and 'road in'.
Pallot, Billot, prounced as a Frenchman would, with silent t and rhyming
with English 'shallow', 'pillow'
Vibert - rhymes with 'why hurt'
Picot and Syvret are Pick-o and Siv-ray
Mauger is pronounced major
Le Quesne is pronounced Le Cain
St Ouens is pronounced Saint Wans (rhymes with swans)
And Ahier? Well, I'll try to get the sound on my web site when I have
worked out how to do this.

With best wishes
Brian Read

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