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Help[Facts] pronunciation
i was wondering what is the correct pronunciation for "ben bulben"?
i am familier with two options. in one - the first sylable of "bulben" is pronounced as in "bull" and in the second it is prononced as in "but". which is right?
thank you.
lyor shternberg
i am familier with two options. in one - the first sylable of "bulben" is pronounced as in "bull" and in the second it is prononced as in "but". which is right?
thank you.
lyor shternberg
1
Replies
Generally speaking, the 'but' vowel tends to occur in standard English, the kind that sounds as if it isn't being spoken with a regional accent, and the 'bull' vowel is one of the features of regional accents. So, most educated speakers of English would go the 'but' route.
Having said that, Yeats rather enjoyed Irish pronunciations, so quite possibly he might have preferred something more bullish. But that needn't bother us ... after all, we wouldn't say 'Oonder Ben Boolben'.
Having said that, Yeats rather enjoyed Irish pronunciations, so quite possibly he might have preferred something more bullish. But that needn't bother us ... after all, we wouldn't say 'Oonder Ben Boolben'.
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Thanks Anneza, this helps, although as a translator to hebrew the problem remains, should i go with the standard englishj or should i stay with the regional. quite a dilema. other hebrew translators splitt in the middle: two used the "but" vowel and two went with the "bull".
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I would honestly stay with the 'but'! I'm a translator too and I know about the minefields ... but I'm not too sure even whereabouts in Ireland it is, so I can't be sure of how it would sound in the local dialect. Of which there are many ... but good old RP is so reliable!
The only possible problem I can imagine, and imagine it is as I don't know Hebrew, is if one or other pronunciation might lead to silly giggles. You know the sort of thing I mean - a word in your language which is totally clean and innocent might sound like a taboo word in mine. Try it out on a group of eleven-year-olds if you're in doubt!
All the best
The only possible problem I can imagine, and imagine it is as I don't know Hebrew, is if one or other pronunciation might lead to silly giggles. You know the sort of thing I mean - a word in your language which is totally clean and innocent might sound like a taboo word in mine. Try it out on a group of eleven-year-olds if you're in doubt!
All the best
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