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From: "David Kearney" <>
Subject: Re: [LDR] Pronunciation of "Outten"
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 23:18:52 -0500
References: <200201020704.g02747323235@lists5.rootsweb.com> <3C33AD41.34B6271D@telerama.com>


My thought is that sometimes what our ears hear really are just different "accents," as opposed to truly different pronunciations. For instance, a strong "out" is characteristic of some Virginia dialects, but I don't think that means that an "outsider" should work to put a strong "out" in words when in Virginia. I think this might be a fine, or even a false, point, but many differences in word pronunciations might not be within a characteristic Delmarva dialect, but reflect more just the sound of the different tongue generally.

Does this make any sense? It might be neither here, nor there, but I thought it might make a small difference. :-)

Dave K
----- Original Message -----
From: Karen Stephens
To:
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 8:00 PM
Subject: [LDR] Pronunciation of "Outten"


My grandmother's maiden name was Outten and she pronounced it "oo ten". Our
branch of the family, now from St. Louis, feels that this was the original
pronunciation. However, the Delmarva Outtens pronounce it "Out en", and this is
where the family originated in America. I suspect that "oo ten" was the
original based on the fact that it was often spelt as Hooten in early records.
But then again I am somewhat biased....

Karen Stephens

>
> A minor point, but this thread reminds me that I'd still like to hear the
> answer:
>
> Would someone who knows please advise me regarding the proper (or
> contemporary, at least) pronunciation of "Outten"? I believe it comes from
> French ancestry and, therefore, is "OO (long oo)--ten"?
>
> Not knowing the true pronunciation of my mother's maiden name (not Outten,
> BTW)--transliterated from an obscure and previously unknown Eastern European
> language--put genealogical research for maternal grandparent lines on hold
> for about thirty-some years. Once it was properly pronounced, we realized
> it was NOT of English origin nor even close, among other things. We
> discovered that the transliterated spelling given to it in this country was
> incorrect and presumptuously based on an influential-someone outside the
> family who changed the way it was spoken. From that point, we found the
> real native language, ethnic background, hybrid religion, specific village,
> etc.--all from finally hearing the name correctly spoken.
>
> Therefore, pronunciation has become quite important to me and probably will
> remain so, even when it doesn't seem to warrant the effort to find out. I
> thought I'd pass that information on in hopes it might help someone else
> with what seems to be a similarly impassible brick wall.
>
> Thanks in advance and Happy New Year to everyone.
>
> --Carol (Huffington & *Arden* NOT: it's ARDAN or ARDON, and not even
> pronounced that way, exactly...) Menges
>
> ______________________________
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: [LDR] Outten
> Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2002 12:51:01 -0600
> From: "Bill Reder" <>
> To:
>
> Hi, Carol. The only Outtens' I knew pronounced it "Out en". Of course, I come from Dullawer, where Houston is pronounced "House-ton". Happy New Year, All. Cathy
>
> ______________________________
>


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