Whalley

[Maydup]

How do you pronounce Whalley? In relation to the floods, the BBC are saying Wally which I'm guessing to be incorrect.

[bhg481]

But they still can't get their brain around the fact that there is no R in Whalley.

[Robinia]

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/bbc-presenters-cant-pronounce-whalley-and-people-have-had-enough--bynl5kmtse

[Peter Pedant]

they have been pronoucing it wor-lee

when it is wolly - and I go around doing Beeb RP most of the time

the big problem is that the post vocalic r varies around the country - rhotacism. let alone the intrusive r.
Has anyone noticed that " aller riz great" has been poking his head above the parapet recently ?

[bhg481]

Whalley Range (Manchester) is pronounced Wolly Range by an ex-local I know.

Whalley (Ribble Valley) is pronounced Wall E, wall rhyming with hole, e as in a,b,c d,e. I was a local, I am in regular contact with dozens of locals. If the BBC RP dept is pronouncing it Wolley, rhyming with Wally then they are wallies.

[Peter Pedant]

yep

I was told Whalley range was from er whalley sozza

[Peter Pedant]

how dja get wall to rhyme with hole ?
as in Whoa ! or Oh woe !

[bhg481]

OK ball

[Canary42]

Does it whalley matter ?

[bhg481]

Or try pronouncing Warley (worcester) without the "R".

Traditional Lancastrians don't do "H", remember, so silent "H" in Whalley.

[-Talbot-]

Whalley? ... How do you pronounce Billington?

http://news.sky.com/story/1613589/megaphone-man-protests-about-flooded-village

[Peter Pedant]

terrible confession to make
considering the publican from wolley called it wolley

I took a bus down to Whalley range ( that would be wolley ) and asked a resident - no floods here then [ good one huh ? ]

and the resident said no we're wolley and that is in warley/wallee

and I squealed ; no - really ?

and he said - yeah it is warlee that's been flooded we're different .....


so Ihave to apologise and cringe and blush priettily to all and sundry .....

[bhg481]

Isn't the English language wonderful, PP; no consistency of spelling/pronunciation. I expect the residents of Stroud (Strood) in Kent and Stroud (Strowd) in Gloucester have the same problem, not to mention Southwick, London (Suthick) and Southwick, Brighton (South Wick).
And I've got to admit I pronouced Whalley Range as Wally until my Mancunian friend corrected me.
Can we move on to argue about Darwen now, which was always pronounced Darren by locals until the BBC got their hands on it.