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Monday, 15th March 2010

Are ghoti and chips on sale in Hawk's Knee?

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Published Date: 09 January 2009
I was stopped in the street this week and asked if I could give directions to Hawk's Knee.
I was baffled. Was it a new pub? The vet? Or some kind of treasure hunt?

Thankfully, the driver of the car showed me the place name on his map – Hoxne! Hoxne the village of course, rather than Hoxon of morris dancing fame.

Oh, the joys of the English language. Add some regional idiosyncrasies and it's a wonder how we manage to communicate.

Nothing is ever as simple as it might seem, but then how easy is the English language to pick up for the ever-increasing number of immigrants?

For example, how would you pronounce 'ghoti'? Gotty, jotty, gee-otty, goaty?

Actually it is pronounced fish!

Take the 'gh' from enough, the 'o' of women and the 'ti' of station to see why!

All newcomers to this part of the world are duty bound to mention 'Why-mund-ham' and only need correcting once to ask for 'Windham' but how easy are some of the others?

Is it Garboldisham or Garbl'sham, Hunstanton or Huns'ton? We know it's not Nor-witch but should it be Norrich or Norridge?

I've heard someone talk about Wise Beck for Wisbech and one former Diss Express reporter insisted Ely was pronounced Heel Eye.

Then of course there is Happisburgh lighthouse, keeping guard over Haisborough Sands, and don't even mention Little Hautbois, Stiffkey or Costessey!

Thank goodness for plan and simple Diss, or should that be pronounced Dice...

  • What place names have you heard mispronounced in unusual ways?

  • Write and tell us Place Names, Diss Express, Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AE, email editorial@dissexpress.co.uk or leave your comments below.

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    • Last Updated: 09 January 2009 10:19 AM
    • Source: Diss Express
    • Location: Diss
     
     

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