Trivia: How could station names fit the ideas for "simplification" of English?

[yorkie]

The BBC has reported some, in my opinion crazy, ideas to "simplify" the English language:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30964716

Silly silent letters? Should spelling be simplified?

The English Spelling Society is drawing up a list of proposals to make it easier to learn to spell.

Under a new system, words with silent letters like those in 'knee', 'dumb' or 'cough' could become a thing of the past.

The group believes changes to the way certain tricky words are spelt would help youngsters learn to read more quickly.

Of course it will never happen, but theoretically if these plans came to fruition, and place - and therefore station - names also had to be "simplified", so that they were spelt how they sound, what suggestions would you have for National Rail stations?

(if a place is pronounced differently in different areas, e.g. Midlanders saying "marry-le-bone" then the pronunciation of locals shall prevail )

Milngavie - Mulguy
Loughborough - Lufbra
Scarborough - Scarbra
Leicester - Lester
Bicester - Bister
Marylebone - Marleybone
Slaithwaite - Slawit
Tywyn - Tiwin
Beaconsfield - Beckonsfield
Gillingham (Kent) - Jillingham
Ben Rhydding - Ben Ridin
Bournemouth - Bornmuth
Oakleigh Park - Oaklee Park
Newquay - Newkey
​

And for a bit of fun:

Hull - Ull
Bradford - Bratfud
Huddersfield - Uddersfield

​

Over to you...

 

[yorksrob]

I'm rather curious as to why Gillingham (Dorset) is considered as requiring alteration but Gillingham (Kent) isn't mentioned so must be fine as it is

 

[table38]

When my Nan lived in Greenwich, it was always Grenitch (posh) or Grinnidge (local)

 

[yorkie]

I'm rather curious as to why Gillingham (Dorset) is considered as requiring alteration but Gillingham (Kent) isn't mentioned so must be fine as it is

Sorry, other way round! The suggestion for that was from someone else and misread the reply. I've amended my post accordingly.

 

[yorksrob]

Sorry, other way round! The suggestion for that was from someone else and misread the reply. I've amended my post accordingly.

In that case, I reverse my curiosity

 

[Railsigns]

Milngavie - Munguy

Milguy or Mulguy. The 'n' is not pronounced.

 

[adrock1976]

I would like the English Spelling Society to come up with a suggestion for Llanfair PG.

A couple of Scotland ones I've come up with is Kircoddy (Kirkcaldy), and Dalrye (Dalry - Ayrshire)

Cheers

Adam

 

[306024]

Bethnal Green - Befnal Green
Cambridge Heath - Cambrige Eef
Hackney Downs - Akne Daans
Limehouse - Limeaas
And out in the sticks
Wymondham - Windam

 

[steamybrian]

a few from the South East

Thornton Heath is pronounced locally as "Fort Neath"
Leigh (Kent) is pronounced locally as "lie"
Ewell is pronounced "U well "
and of course
Beaulieu Road should be Bewley Road

 

[Bevan Price]

I would like the English Spelling Society to come up with a suggestion for Llanfair PG.

Cheers

Adam

I don't think our friends in Wales would appreciate the English Spelling Society telling them how to spell Wales place names.

 

[adrock1976]

I was meaning the English translation of Llanfair PG.

I would like to mention that my experiences of North Wales are limited to a week in Rhyl in 1985, and a day trip to Llandudno in 1989/90.

In peace

Adam

 

[GatwickDepress]

Brighton - Brytern - I was asked by a pair of Spanish tourists where the trains to "brig-h'ton" where once!
Hastings - Eystins.
Doleham - Dollum

Quite a few people sound like they say Lunnon Brij too.

 

[Springs Branch]

While working in the USA, one of my colleagues was telling me about his upcoming vacation visiting my home country.

He was taking one of those whistle-stop coach tours which "do" Britain in 5 days or so, ending up in "Edin-burg, England" (as in burger).

I never remembered to ask him whether he got a warm welcome in Scotland.


Having said that, one of the stations on the Southport to Wigan line used to be called "Parbold for Newburgh".
For a good few years I mistakenly assumed this was Newburgh as in burger - only corrected when I started going out with a girl from that village.

 

[ExRes]

Mustn't forget that Americanised place in London, Loogerbrooger Junction

 

[AM9]

Norfolk is a place rich with names that are pronounced different to their spelling. Unfortunately, (maybe not for Ticket offices) many of them are closed:

Fakenham - Fakenam
Mundesley - Munzlee

Then in east London there is:

Plaistow - Plarstoe, emphasis on the 'ar'; even the BBC get this one wrong. (Alf Garnett got it bang on!)

 

[yorksrob]

Mustn't forget that Americanised place in London, Loogerbrooger Junction

I think that's a much better name. We should rename it that.

 

[pne]

Liskeard -> Liscard
Falmouth -> Falmuth
Plymouth -> Plimmuth
Torquay -> Torkey
Barnstaple -> Barnstapull
Salisbury -> Solzbry
Chiswick -> Chizzick
Alnwick -> Annick
Flitwick -> Flittick
Cheshunt -> Chezunt
Chesham -> Chessam
Harwich -> Harritch
Norwich -> Norridge
Ely -> Ealey
Reading -> Redding
Guildford -> Gilfud
Reigate -> Ryegate

 

[ainsworth74]

Well from the way most round here say it:

Redcar Central/East -> Redca Central/East
Marske -> Maske

 

[Busaholic]

St Austell - Snozell.
Launceston (of blessed memory) - Larnson
Back on subject of Gillingham, my brother and I purchased a lease on a shop in Orpington in the 80s from a Mr Gillingham. Later on said gentleman found himself in court on various matters and, on being found guilty and jailed, insisted on informing the judge that his name was pronounced with a hard G, not in the Kentish way. I wasn't in court to see the judge's reaction but it was probably lucky the sentence had already been pronounced!

 

[TheEdge]

And out in the sticks
Wymondham - Windam

How very rude. The sticks, Wymondham has a Waitrose!

Although it is fun when sat drinking my coffee in the cab at Cambridge and someone, most often Americans, come up and ask for Wimondham or Whymondham.

And while I'm here, I've got a match and some blue touch paper...

Shrewsbury = ?

 

[pne]

And while I'm here, I've got a match and some blue touch paper...

Shrewsbury = ?

I would say "Shroze-bry", first syllables rhymes with "shows" or "rose".

Is that wrong? Is the pronunciation contentious?

 

[306024]

Today's interesting fact is that according to a poll last year in the Shropshire Star (they should know) 81.55% say Shroosbury.

 

[pne]

Shroosbury

As in the animal/like "shoes, lose, booze"?

Ah, I just found this old news article.

I'm a bit surprised that there is such contention even among locals!


Also, some more:

Hereford -> Herryfud
Gloucester -> Gloster
Worcester -> Wooster
Cheltenham -> Cheltenum
Derby -> Darby

 

[TheEdge]

Today's interesting fact is that according to a poll last year in the Shropshire Star (they should know) 81.55% say Shroosbury.

Well 81.55% of people are wrong. Its Shrowsbury. Guess where I'm from originally!

 

[AM9]

Today's interesting fact is that according to a poll last year in the Shropshire Star (they should know) 81.55% say Shroosbury.

Aparentley, it depends on which side of the river you live. Those who live within the loop of the river (the original part of the town) pronounce it in the way that it used to be spelt, i.e. 'Shrowesbury' or 'Shroesbury'.
In the newer housing areas, it seems that 'Shroosbury' is more used. I suppose that accounts for the 80/20 majority as there are far more houses on the estates than in the old town.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm sure someone on here ages ago said they had a mate from Shropshire who swore blind it was pronounced as written (i.e. rhyming with blue).

Another for the thread itself is Burnley, better represented as s**thole

 

[306024]

Well 81.55% of people are wrong. Its Shrowsbury. Guess where I'm from originally!

Somewhere near Shroosbury perhaps?

 

[FQ]

Warwick: Warick
Solihull: Sulihull
Stourbridge Junction/Town: Starbridge Junction/Town
Pen-y-ffordd: Pennyforth
Hawarden: Harden
Bache: Baych

 

[TheEdge]

Machynlleth - bahahahah, no. Ma-hunt-lef. Sort of, maybe.

 

[krus_aragon]

The BBC has reported some, in my opinion crazy, ideas to "simplify" the English language:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30964716
Of course it will never happen, but theoretically if these plans came to fruition, and place - and therefore station - names also had to be "simplified", so that they were spelt how they sound, what suggestions would you have for National Rail stations?

....
Tywyn - Tiwin​

If you are looking to Anglicise that Welsh placename, I think Tuwin would be a better approximation.

(The vowel 'y' changes sound depending on whether it is in the emphasised syllable or not. The other vowels do so too, but it's most pronounced with 'y'.)