Generally the case in eastern Massachusetts although I don't ever recall
berk and derby pronounced as though e was a. My own Massachusetts
town (now spelled Woburn) is pronounced by the locals as "Wooob'n" and
derives from its original incorporation spelling (1642?) as Wobourne and
the propensity of those from Massachusetts to lose track of r. I
lived in Woburn for 11 years and still can't pronounce it like a native.
Chuck Norcutt
Andrew Fildes wrote:
> It's a piece of rhyming slang - for 'idiot'.
> I am pleased that Piers knows the origin tho' I'd expect no less.
> It refers to a dimwit 19th Century (?) celebrity of the name of
> Berkley Hunt.
> No further explanation forthcoming.
>
> Berkshire and Derby are place names pronounced as if the 'e' is an
> 'a'. This is because, like many English names, they have retained the
> pronunciation as it was before the Great Vowel Shift (mid-12th
> Century). If you are going to steal them, for gawd's sake, get them
> right!
>
> Please note also -
> Leicester - lester (where I was dragged up).
> And for Tasmanians, Launceston - lawnstun.
>
> Andrew Fildes
> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> On 05/02/2009, at 11:59 PM, John Hudson wrote:
>
>> Hey, what's wrong with Berk?
>
--
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