Pronunciation Of Words

[JuniperEccles]

Wasn't sure where to post this so Society & Culture is as near as it gets.

My friend has the surname BIRCH but, without exception, when she's cold-called by people of Indian/Pakistani origin they pronounce it BRICH.

Surely not all of them are dyslexic so I wondered if anyone could throw any light on the subect.

There is an advantage to it though because my friend can just say there's no-one of that name there and just ring off!!

[Tilly2]

They don't know there R's from their I's.

[Tilly2]

..............their R's from their I's. Doh!

[THECORBYLOON]

I am guessing that you pronounce bird and curd the same but to me they are different and it may be the Asian pronunciation is similar to mines and with an Asian accent it is mis-heard as Britch.

[JuniperEccles]

Many thanks for your answers although I'm slightly mystified by the one from The Corby Loon !!

[joko]

do they actually say quite clearly as b r i t c h? or more brrrch

it may just be that they roll their r's

[JuniperEccles]

You could be right, Joko, my friend will have to listen very carefully next time to solve this matter!

[THECORBYLOON]

What I was getting at is that you and your pal may pronounce their name to sound like burch whereas I and possibly Asians sound the 'I" and roll it as JOKO said. As you are maybe not used to that, you and your pal hear it as 'britch'-is that clearer?

[JuniperEccles]

Yes, thank you, CorbyLoon. Got it !!!

[Toxophilus]

If your friend has not already done so, I have found that without my name in the telephone directory I get far less bother. So long as everyone who needs it has the number, you do not need to be ex-directory but just tell them so in case they forget it. On the occasions I do get bothered, I just put down the phone on the table and walk away.