Pronouncing place names (and how to eat food politely)


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On 12/11/2015 at 8:08 AM, BeestonMick said:

Southwell is Southwell, my sister will kill you if you say it otherwise, which every BBC racing blokey pronounces suthall (and you have Southall in London) and Colwick (COLLICK) which is often pronounced COL WICK. I would say 'Renn oth' and 'Blidd eth' are correct pronunciations. There's a place I have to deal with in Norfolk called Costessey and the locals call it 'kossy'.

Gudinit!

It was Suthell when I lived there briefly as a kid - never heard of 'Southwell' until the 1990s and poncy London incomers!

 

Mansfield friend born and bred insists it is Rennoth!

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I can honestly assure you RR.that don't hang listening at bog doors. I have more important things to do, like knitting spaghetti or filling ravioli parcels. ( Got tired of counting mushy peas in a pot

5hit hole for Derby

How typical of Nottstalgia, but lovely ....... we moved effortlessly from pronouncing place names to eating spaghetti.   Situation calm on the site! 

The debate about Suthell or South-well crops up now and then. I was born and raised in Radford. my father (born Mapperley but Hyson Green raised) always called it Suthell saying this was the correct way. I moved to just outside Southwell almost 20 years years ago. Most natives of this area use the South-well pronunciation. Nothing to do with Nouveau Riche poncy southerners moving in or 'not sounding posh enough' as some have posted here. Simply the way it is. I'm not jumped up but do now use South-well as after 20 years I'm allowed to. I don't use a knife to eat peas. I use a spoon!

Nearby Norwell (North Well from Roman times I believe) is pronounced Norrel by locals not as logic dictates Nore -well.

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I’ve lived in the area for 56 years. I can see the tips of the twin towers of the Minster from my bedroom window. I came from Woodthorpe where we knew it as Suthull. I still call it Suthull. The indigenous people call it Southwell. That’s both the posh and not so posh. They do take a pleasure In correcting you though!

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56 minutes ago, Jill Sparrow said:

I have always called it Suthell and shall continue to do so! Have worked with some jumped up types who, having moved there, insist it is South Well. You know the sort...they eat their peas with a knife! :blink:

A Scottish doctor friend of mine always ate his peas from a knife. I marvelled at his dexterity. Is this a Scottish custom?

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1 hour ago, Jill Sparrow said:

As long as we all know where we mean, does it matter?  As to peas, if you squash them flat they stay on the knife more easily! :rolleyes:

No Jill. It doesn't matter but when I hear the news readers on the BBC say Wol at on or bas ford it erks me. Maybe they're right. Who knows. Still cringe though. I love listening to Radio Nottingham coverage of Notts County matches where they often 'tek a corner' or 'ge the ball away'. Priceless. Feel right at om.

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It all depends Phil, whether you have garden or mushy. Garden peas, the only way is fork/shovel. That way you know you can get a decent mouthful. Mushy peas, that's another story. I prefer mine with mint sauce and a slice of bread and butter. When we first moved to East Sussex, used to take great delight in asking for fish and mixed ! (Our local chippy was 12miles away) They hadn't a clue what I was asking for ! Another one was " pie, chips and gravy". I always got a look of horror. Pies down here always seem to be sold still in the wrapper. B.

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My father in law used to eat marrowfat peas in a sandwich. Solves the problem! He came from Newcastle so don’t know if it is a Geordie thing.

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Marrowfat peas ?? They're big enough to eat individually, you can slice them and then they'd fit better on bread. We've tried to improve our social standing and always eat Petit Pois. Always make sure one has one's little finger cocked, with a forkful, (like sipping tea in China cups).

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3 minutes ago, philmayfield said:

Elegance and Newcastle. These are words that go together well!

Elegance and Newcastle, spot on Phil. Where they wash their hands before going to the loo.

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Just mix em in to the spuds (a bit like mixing concrete) they don't go anywhere, and slosh a bit of gravy in for good measure. That's how we did it in St Anns!

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Someone told me once that the 'correct' (royal) way to eat a banana was with a knife and fork - likewise oranges and apples. They should NEVER be held in the hand.

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