>>>>>>>>>>There is a British surname Featherstonhaugh (Fanshaw). There is also a town in England by that name.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I stuck my foot in my mouth buying a ticket in the London Underground when I said I wanted a fare to Leicester Square, pronouncing it Lie-chest-er. "Generally we pronounce it Lester," the agent said drily.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>And in one novel Borislav Pekić, while in exile in London, describes how he couldn't find "meliboun roud" [mellybone road] anywhere on the map. Because it's spelt as Marylebone.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Ah, the reversal of letters because it makes more 'sense'. Around here, you can always tell when someone's NOT from around here (Central Texas) because they pronounce New Braunfels and 'New Brownsfull'
>>>>>>
>>>>>>In case you got me wrong - Pekić heard everybody mentioning it as Mellybone. Though, hand on heart, I heard it pronounced only once, as Marrilybone, but then that was by a Scotsman.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Everybody here thinks that sauce is pronounced vorčester - warchester - and I've heard the natives should pronounce it more like wooster. Never had it on the table, so didn't have the excuse to ask when I had a chance. At least, I used the chance and the excuse, when I had it, for a more important question, once I was in the position to ask it: "how do you pronounce your last name". Felt nice to be on the other end of it for once, and the victim didn't even think of the cop out answer ("easily!").
>>>>>
>>>>>More like wuster sauce (Lea & Perrins). It wouldn't be wooster pronounced like booster.
>>>>
>>>>I have an English name (Whiteley), and I have only had two Americans pronounce it correctly, as far as my family is concerned. By the way, I am related to William Whiteley of Westborne Grove (the world’s first department store).
>>>
>>>You're related to a department store?? ;)
>>>
>>>>
>>>>The name is Old English, the color White and ley added. Ley in Old English became Leigh (middle English), which became Forest (Modern English). Considering the name started from Denmark, moved to Normandy France, and then England, has been interesting to trace.
Here is one you might like. The language is atrocious (fair warning) but after the intro is over here is a living legend in his element.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRBsgRYPR-4
