How to pronounce those airfield names

[Roblex]

The English language is not the most logical of languages when it comes to pronounciation and town/village names are even worse Here are a couple of pointers to the ones most often mispronounced, maybe some of you can add more?

Hawkinge = HAWKINJ
Lympne = LIM
Blenheim = BLENIM or BLENEM (I believe Germans do pronounce it BLENHIME)
Bekesbourne = BEEKSBORN (that is the actial name of the Canterbury field)
Folkstone = FOKESTON


I have a village near me that is spelled Trottiscliffe and pronounced TROSLEY so you can never be sure

[phoenix1963]

Roblex - I hate to correct you over what may simply be ambiguous spelling, but BBC Kent says Hawkinge is pronounced HAWKinje http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/ar..._feature.shtml . Without the final "e" (or use of the phonetic alphabet) your spelling is unclear because "j" can often be said as "y".
In this case the "g" is soft.

It is certainly not Hawking, as many of our US cousins say. The second syllable is similar to the placename Penge.

People might also note that Dungeness is pronounced DUNj’n ESS, rather than "English Point".

Also, the point near Ramsgate was historically called the North Foreland by pilots of the time.

56RAF_phoenix

[klem]

I can vouch for Penge (penje), I was born there, not that it appears on the CoD map. Some oiks liked to humour us by calling it pengee. I have to say it's a place to come from, not go to. If you get my drift. Even after they built over all the bomb sites. Perhaps even because they built over the bomb sites.

I don't think anyone has a problem with Croydon (croyd'n) but, as we're on the subject, the general couple of miles between Croydon and Penge was locally nicknamed Croynge (croynje) and was also mentioned in the Goon show. I say this only to confuse everbody

I'd also tell you about Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio gogogoch but the map doesn't extend to Wales.

[Redroach]

Originally Posted by Roblex

Blenheim = BLENIM or BLENEM (I believe Germans do pronounce it BLENHIME)

You English guys can spell it however you want, because someone seems to have fiddled with the word's letters, when writing the (english) 'battle report'.
The actual, German name is "Blindheim" - yes, just like Blind-home.


But I didn't know about HAWKinje . Looks like it's dutch or something

[salmo]

Landmarks such as Cape Gris Nez are bastardised online too. It's often called 'French Point' by those that don't know their geopgraphy.

Cap Gris Nez (literally cape grey nose) pronouced CAPE GRI NESS

Continuing the geography lesson, Dungeness (the headland on the coast of Kent, south of St Mary's bay) is often bastardised to 'English Point'

[Redroach]

The English/US aren't capable to pronounce "R" the french way, so a proper pronounciation is mostly pointless anyway

[klem]

Originally Posted by salmo

Landmarks such as Cape Gris Nez are bastardised online too. It's often called 'French Point' by those that don't know their geopgraphy.

Cap Gris Nez (literally cape grey nose) pronouced CAPE GRI NESS

Continuing the geography lesson, Dungeness (the headland on the coast of Kent, south of St Mary's bay) is often bastardised to 'English Point'

Actually its pronounced cap gree nay (its French)

And Dungeness is dunjness

[Osprey]

Originally Posted by klem

I can vouch for Penge (penje), I was born there, not that it appears on the CoD map. Some oiks liked to humour us by calling it pengee. I have to say it's a place to come from, not go to. If you get my drift. Even after they built over all the bomb sites. Perhaps even because they built over the bomb sites.

I don't think anyone has a problem with Croydon (croyd'n) but, as we're on the subject, the general couple of miles between Croydon and Penge was locally nicknamed Croynge (croynje) and was also mentioned in the Goon show. I say this only to confuse everbody

Oi! My mum was from Penge! And dad Thornton Heath (pronounced Thortun Eeef by the locals ). And it's a wonderful place right now at this date because the mighty Crystal Palace FC have just hit the top of the league table

Never ever heard of 'croynje' though.

I can forgive mis pronunciation but what gets my goat are the nonsense:

English Point - Dungeness (Dun je ness)
French Point - Oh, you mean "Cap Gris Nez" (Kap Grin-nay)
Ramston - wtf?

The whole Ramsgate area is call North Foreland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Foreland


But you could get away with calling it "Broadstairs" because that is the town bang in the centre of it.
http://goo.gl/maps/i5H7o

Finally in this geography lesson, Where is "Hellfire Corner"?
This is the south eastern tip of England south of Deal and east of Folkstone just out to sea in the Dover Strait. It's a nickname given by RAF pilots because it was where so much fighting too place.
http://goo.gl/maps/bf19b

Next lesson, let's visit another part of the map
The Needles
http://goo.gl/maps/pauFK

The Solent
http://goo.gl/maps/UHxRf

Selsey Bill
http://goo.gl/maps/hnRfR

Beachy Head (popular suicide destination for the UK)
http://goo.gl/maps/xYFU3

The Isle of Sheppey (Eastchurch aerodrome)
http://goo.gl/maps/1r6ZJ

That'll do for now.

[ATAG_Snapper]

So, the outcrop that Broadstairs is located isn't called "The Knob"?

[klem]

Originally Posted by Osprey

Oi! My mum was from Penge!....................

Errmmm.... she didn't pub-crawl in mini skirts and fishnet tights with "more bang for your buck" on her hat did she? Only.....