Posted by Peter H on May 31, 2005 at 13:46:21 from 86.130.133.158 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Norwich/Harwich? Which wich?, puddle or Piddle posted by Alan Hakim on May 31, 2005 at 10:26:42:
Visitors to the UK should not get too worried about place pronunciations. You are better off sometimes not knowing. A strange reverse rule sometimes applies, under which visitors should not attempt local pronunciation, because they are visitors, ie outsiders. I once was in the east Cumbrian village of 'Ravenstonedale' and in a know-all fashion I asked someone how long they had been living in 'Rassendl' (the local pronunciation, according to Wainwright in his 'Howgill Fells' Guide). I got no reply. I asked the person I was staying with (an outsider who had lived near Ravenstonedale for 10 years) why this had happened. He told me I should have pronounced it simply as 'raven stone dale' (although just 'ravenstone' would do). You are safer pronouncing names phonetically as they are spelt - you will immediately be classed as an outsider but then that will be obvious anyway, and you are at least not trying to be clever.