|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609
addict
|
addict
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609 |
And the "Y" in "CYMRU" (WALES) is prounounced more like the "W" in "CWM" - is that right?
Rod Ward
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609 |
I visited my aunts this weekend and was reminded during the journey of a placename I have wondered about for years. On the road out of Gloucester (p. Gloster) to Birdlip (do birds HAVE lips?) there is a sign to "Cold Slad". Now it is obvious to me that this was originally for some bizarre reason called "Cold SAlad" and at some stage for an equally bizarre reason dropped an "a" along the way. But a couple of years ago in Scotland I found out the "a" was on holiday (or had been kidnapped) but was now living in a place called "Aira Force".
Does anybody know of other places that have gained or lost letters and can we pair them up?
Rod
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
Ah, Rodward, you have touched upon a pet theory of mine.
The theory of vowel migration
which is that, in the past, the people of Eastern Europe and the people of Hawaii were one. However, a great dispute arose between two large groups of the people, and in order to avoid massive war, the two groups agreed to go their separate ways. In doing so, they allocated the parent group's resources between them, and when it came to the language, the Eastern Europeans took all the consonants, while the Hawaiians took all the vowels.
Now, the Welch were apparently all mixed up in this too, but didn't go with either group, and ended up confusing their consonants and their vowels.
And the Chinese and Japanese didn't get either, and had to settle for pictures.
The end.
[raising-shield-to-ward-off-rotten-tomatoes-and-other-feedback emoticon]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609 |
Sparteye - thanks for that one. It reminds me of Paul Merton's question about what happened when Czechoslavakia split. The Czechs and Slovaks each got their own republic, but where did all the "o"s go?
Rod
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Sparteye, This is an eerie case of "great minds think alike" or, if you prefer, independent discovery of fire.  A while back I alluded to The Great Vowel Movement, but apparently never got around to posting it. In my theory, it was the Finns and the Hungarians, once warring neighboring tribes existing in what is now roughly Estonia, who split the spoils (but never the infinitives).
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
"This is an eerie case of "great minds think alike" or, if you prefer, independent discovery of fire.Or, possibly, we can only come up with one idea between us.  To share my thought with you, delighted I am. I am Mr Bell to your Mr Gray.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,316
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
342
guests, and
3
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
