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ArchivesPrn and spelling of Bryony?
Hi All,
I'm only familiar with this name by reading it, but have always read it as BREE-o-nee. I'm from the Northeast US and wonder how others pronounce this, especially where it's more popular(England?). I wonder, too, if the spelling "Briony" is an accepted alternate spelling. This wouldn't effect the BREE-o-ny/BRI-o-ny pronunciation, but even though the double y spelling is the more traditional(and I'm usually for that), it has the appearance of being ultra-feminized and/or being a creative spelling. The prn of BRI-o-ny sounds to my ear as a diminutive of the boy's name Brian in a way, another reason that I prefer the first version. As much as I love the name (and how I thought it was pronounced), would my changes in both spelling and prn butcher it?
Thanks!
I'm only familiar with this name by reading it, but have always read it as BREE-o-nee. I'm from the Northeast US and wonder how others pronounce this, especially where it's more popular(England?). I wonder, too, if the spelling "Briony" is an accepted alternate spelling. This wouldn't effect the BREE-o-ny/BRI-o-ny pronunciation, but even though the double y spelling is the more traditional(and I'm usually for that), it has the appearance of being ultra-feminized and/or being a creative spelling. The prn of BRI-o-ny sounds to my ear as a diminutive of the boy's name Brian in a way, another reason that I prefer the first version. As much as I love the name (and how I thought it was pronounced), would my changes in both spelling and prn butcher it?
Thanks!
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Replies
i have always thought it was Bry-o-nee. but ever since i read the post below yours, i think that Bree-o-nee is a better pronunciation.
Breoni
Briony
Breaoni
Breoni
Briony
Breaoni
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Thanks for the info and opinions!
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In Ireland (where I live) this is a pretty rare name, and we pronounce it the same way they do in England; BRIE-o-nee. It's got more well-known since the book (and film) "Atonement" by Ian McEwan were released. One of the main characters in it is called Briony Tallis. Briony is an accepted spelling, and it's not regarded as "creative" at all. In my opinion, Bryony looks like a "creative" spelling, even though it's the original form of the name.
And technically, the proper Irish pronunciation of Brian is bree-an, though that's pretty rare here. Many guys just have the American pronunciation; brie-an.
And technically, the proper Irish pronunciation of Brian is bree-an, though that's pretty rare here. Many guys just have the American pronunciation; brie-an.
This message was edited 5/15/2009, 11:01 AM
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I agree with the previous poster. I'm American and have always heard/said Bryony as BRIGH-uh-nee, like "Brian" + -ee.
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A glance at the word 'bryony', from which the name comes, will show that in UK English at least it is pronounced brie o ni, with the first syllable having the same sound as in 'eye'. If a good American dictionary shows something different, then that is the American pronunciation.
Either way, Bryony has got nothing whatsoever to do with Brian. Look them both up, and you'll see. The Briony spelling is used for the plant, but less frequently than the Bryony version, which goes right back to ancient Greek via Old English. So, both spellings are accepted, but your pronunciation would raise eyebrows among speakers of British English.
Either way, Bryony has got nothing whatsoever to do with Brian. Look them both up, and you'll see. The Briony spelling is used for the plant, but less frequently than the Bryony version, which goes right back to ancient Greek via Old English. So, both spellings are accepted, but your pronunciation would raise eyebrows among speakers of British English.
This message was edited 5/14/2009, 10:41 PM
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