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Stupid pronunciation question...
How do you pronounce Alasdair / Alastair? I always assumed they were AL-ihs-der and AL-ihs-ter, but I recently heard of an Alasdair called "Dair". I'm assuming this is pronounced Dare?Please forgive my stereotypical "American ignorance". =P Thanks in advance!

This message was edited 3/22/2007, 1:45 PM

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I use both pronunciations.
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I went to school with several Alasdair's - it's been popular here till quite recently. They all pronounced it the same as the Alastairs pronounced theirs - AL-iss-tur. In practise they sound identical. I've never heard "Dair", though it would be pronounced like "dare", yes. In my experience they all went by Ally, which is why I can't get used to Allie as a girls' name in the States :-)
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I pronouce both as AL-ihs-ter. I believe the 'd' is pronounced like 't'.
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[ALICE-da] for Alistir. Well, I know it's suppose to have a T sound, but I say it so fast, that it becomes a D.
I'm assuming that Alisdair is almost the same. i would say it [ALICE-deh]. The [eh] is prned like the word air, but without the R sound at the end.
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How do you pronounce Alasdair - al-ihs-dare
Alastair - al-ihs-ter
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Well, I grew up watching Masterpiece Theater. If "AL-i-ster*" is good enough for Alistair Cooke, then who am I to say nay? I would pronounce Alasdair the same way, but as an American I'm not the best person to ask.
* Actually, when he said it with his British accent it was closer to "AL-is-ta," but that's not what you're really asking for, is it?

This message was edited 3/22/2007, 4:49 PM

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AL-is-der and AL-is-ter for me. I assume the Dair nickname is from the spelling, not the pronunciation.
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I pronounce it AL-az-dare or AL-a-stair.
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I guess I must also be an "ignorant" American.I prononce Alasdair as AL-iz-dare, but I pronounce Alastair as AL-ihs-ter.
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(Dair for Alasdair .. how lame! Well, that's my opinion. Especially if they're saying it al-iss-DARE, like to rhyme with Fred-Astaire, hehee.)It's exactly like you say, where I am. Stress on the first syllable.
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I think it depends on where you're from. I pronounce it like
Ala-sdare. With a "soft" T making a sound some where between T and D. I don't pronounce the second A like an I.
I can't say that I KNOW that it's pronounced in this way, so please correct me if I'm wrong.
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I've always used the same pronunciation as you.

This message was edited 3/22/2007, 1:47 PM

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