Deborah Moggach

[greenrook]

Does anyone know how this author's name should be pronounced? They can't tell me in our local library!

[sunflower68]

'moggack'??? Great author, nonetheless.

[greenrook]

Thanks sunflower, I incline towards that pronunciation also, but a librarian in our main library said she thought (only thought, mind you!) that it might be M'gash. There aren't any of that name in our 'phone book, I think I'll write to old Deborah's publishers and ask them. My wife says I'm a sad little man to let it bug me!

[sunflower68]

greenrook isn't it just those little things that keep niggling the brain? I was and am still puzzled how to pronounce a (thankfully) ex-boss' surname 'Keough'. My mum was convinced it was sounded 'cough' but these days it could be misconstrued as swearing and I could not bring myself to say it!
Maybe that's why I left; can't remember......

[Quizmonster]

I believe Moggach is pronounced exactly as it looks with the 'ch' as in the Scottish word 'loch' or as in the composer's name, Johann Sebastian Bach. The sound does not exist in 'standard' English, of course, which is why English people speak of Lock Lomond etc!

Keough - or more usually Keogh - is generally pronounced key-oh.

[Quizmonster]

If you click here, you will find a web-page on the origins of the name Moggach, which are clearly Scottish. Mind you, sometimes Scottish names with 'ch' in them do not even pronounce these letters at all. For example, some people pronounce 'Strachan' as 'Strawn' and an area called the Cabrach is pronounced the Cabra.
You will also see that the name has sometimes - particularly in Canada - been changed into Muggah, so maybe that's how the writer, Deborah, pronounces hers.

All-in-all, I think I'm coming round to the idea that Mugga or Mogga is the most likely pronunciation...I've never actually heard anyone say it!

[greenrook]

If I'm ever lucky enough to meet the lady, I'll see how she reacts to 'Debbie'. Not very positively, I'd suspect! Thank you both for your help.

[RogK]

Yes, Quiz is right. "ch" as in "loch".

[Narolines]

When she appears on Womans Hour they always call her "Moggach" with the Scottish "ch" - if that's any help.

[greenrook]

The guttural 'Moggachs' have it then - thank you all