Pronunciation of Argyll

[ScotFree]

I was just watching Craig Ferguson, and I heard him pronounce it as ar-GILE. I've always said it in my head as AR-gile, much like his English guest. Is that how its actually pronounced by the locals?

[Dale Seago]

I was just watching Craig Ferguson, and I heard him pronounce it as ar-GILE. I've always said it in my head as AR-gile, much like his English guest. Is that how its actually pronounced by the locals?

By the locals? I wouldnae ken.

But the original being "Earra-Ghàidheal", meaning something like the land or country of the Gael, it seems about right to me.

[English Bloke]

The Scots put the emphasis is on the gile as in ar-GILE. The English say AR-gile (emphasis on AR-) or ar-gile (no particular emphasis on either). The Scots way then, would be the correct way. And if you want to be really authentic... Throw another R in the middle for the brogue roll "arr-GILE" Ken?

[figheadair]

***

Breadalbane seems to give rise to the same sort of pronunciation problem.

[Morris at Heathfield]

Breadalbane seems to give rise to the same sort of pronunciation problem.

Yes, for the longest time I thought it followed the vowel pattern of the word "weathervane". Then at the Campbell clan tent at Arlington I heard someone pronounce it with a vowel pattern like "Godolphin", which makes sense if you think of the original Gaelic form of the name.

Speaking of toponyms, in the last few years I also discovered that my ancestral town of Heathfield in East Sussex is pronounced locally as "Heffle".

[ThistleDown]

Now why is that? American visitors most often pronounce it as you do, Scotfree: AR-gile, whereas the local emphasis is on the second syllable making it ar-GILE. In the same sentence those same visitors will pronounce one of Argyle's largest towns as o-BAN, when it should be obn.

Oh, that could be fun:

how do you pronounce "ecclefechan"?

ardamurchan?

auchterarder?

avoch?

[English Bloke]

Mauchline?

[figheadair]

Muthill and Methven close to me are always good for a laugh.

[creagdhubh]

Now why is that? American visitors most often pronounce it as you do, Scotfree: AR-gile, whereas the local emphasis is on the second syllable making it ar-GILE. In the same sentence those same visitors will pronounce one of Argyle's largest towns as o-BAN, when it should be obn.

***

Lochaber and Monadhliath are other good ones, but honestly, we could go on and on with this!

Cheers,

[McClef]

And Kirkaldy will catch the unwary anytime!