English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
- Rob Houghton
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
These days we always say 'Howton' and never 'Horton' - mainly because if we do, people in the Midlands and south would spell it Horton. They would never spell 'Horton' Houghton.
Plus there have been some well-known people (footballer's for example) whose name is spelled 'Houghton' but who are called 'Howton' - so its become the accepted way of pronouncing it, at least where I live.
In North Wales, where my dad's family still live, they are still called 'Horton'.
Plus there have been some well-known people (footballer's for example) whose name is spelled 'Houghton' but who are called 'Howton' - so its become the accepted way of pronouncing it, at least where I live.
In North Wales, where my dad's family still live, they are still called 'Horton'.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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- floragord
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
I've only come across the name in Leonidas, as in the chocolates, which we pronounce asMoonraker wrote:We watched Crooked House, last night - a 2017 film adapted from the book. I was pleased to hear Ariste Leonides pronounced several times, so I now know how to say it in my ind when I next read the book:Moonraker wrote:Smyths (toy retailer), Nisa (grocery chain), Leffe (beer) all confuse me! As do Pilescu and Ariste Leonides. I also know of someone who isn't sure of avatar and Houghton!
Aristeed Lay-on-a-dees.
Lee-ON-ee-das . We enjoyed CROOKED HOUSE too, first of the festive TV fare this year!
"Its a magic wood!" said Fanny suddenly.
Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
No, Nigel. Your post seemed to be suggesting that Ariste should be pronounced 'Ari-steed'. Surely the shortened form would be pronounced 'Arist-eh', possibly with the 'eh' only given the value of a half-syllable, which is something unknown in English, but occurs in various foreign languages.Moonraker wrote:Sorry, you too have confused me! Do you mean Leonides is incorrectly spelled? If so, it is how Agatha Christie spelled it.Domino wrote:I'm confused now. Shouldn't that be Aristide Leonidas?
Dave
He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green.
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- pete9012S
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
Thanks Rob - I think I've got it now!Rob Houghton wrote:These days we always say 'Howton' and never 'Horton' ...
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
I remember the singer "Sade". When she became popular in the UK, there were written explanations that her name was pronounced "Shar-day". And so all the Brits pronounced her name correctly.
Then she became popular in the USA. And the same written explanation was distributed in the USA, telling Americans to pronounce it "Shar-day". Then all the Americans followed the instructions, and pronounced her name wrong.
Because a word written as "Shar-day" is pronounced differently by Brits as it is by Americans.
Then she became popular in the USA. And the same written explanation was distributed in the USA, telling Americans to pronounce it "Shar-day". Then all the Americans followed the instructions, and pronounced her name wrong.
Because a word written as "Shar-day" is pronounced differently by Brits as it is by Americans.
Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
It is spelt Aristide, not Ariste, Dave.No, Nigel. Your post seemed to be suggesting that Ariste should be pronounced 'Ari-steed'.
Rob, I have only just started calling you 'Horton' after Julie and Tony told me that was how it should be pronounced. Now you've said it's Howton, after all.
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- MJE
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
Nigel, do you mean to say that even British people don't know how to pronounce British names?
Now I'm not sure if it should be "Horton" or "Howton"; but at least I don't feel quite so bad about thinking of Rob for several years as "Rob Horton" (phonetically), even if I have been incorrect.
Regards, Michael.
Now I'm not sure if it should be "Horton" or "Howton"; but at least I don't feel quite so bad about thinking of Rob for several years as "Rob Horton" (phonetically), even if I have been incorrect.
Regards, Michael.
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
Depends where you come from. As Julie originally comes from 'up north' - she is actually quite correct! But if we say 'Horton' down here, people spell it wrong.Moonraker wrote:Rob, I have only just started calling you 'Horton' after Julie and Tony told me that was how it should be pronounced. Now you've said it's Howton, after all.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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- Courtenay
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
Presumably because of rhotic versus non-rhotic accents again? (They should have written "Shah-day" for the Americans, I assume. Actually, some British accents are rhotic too, but not in the south.)KEVP wrote:I remember the singer "Sade". When she became popular in the UK, there were written explanations that her name was pronounced "Shar-day". And so all the Brits pronounced her name correctly.
Then she became popular in the USA. And the same written explanation was distributed in the USA, telling Americans to pronounce it "Shar-day". Then all the Americans followed the instructions, and pronounced her name wrong.
Because a word written as "Shar-day" is pronounced differently by Brits as it is by Americans.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Courtenay
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
I've always assumed it was Horton!Rob Houghton wrote:Depends where you come from. As Julie originally comes from 'up north' - she is actually quite correct! But if we say 'Horton' down here, people spell it wrong.Moonraker wrote:Rob, I have only just started calling you 'Horton' after Julie and Tony told me that was how it should be pronounced. Now you've said it's Howton, after all.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- John Pickup
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
A good friend of mine is called Steve Houghton and he, and everyone else, pronounces it Howton. For that reason, I have always thought of Rob as Rob Howton. Pity they don't spell it properly.
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- Darrell71
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
I've always assumed it was Howton or Hooton!
SorryNotSorryMoonraker wrote:I think you've confused us all now!Darrell71 wrote: I pronounce cough as huff, so I was quite confused there for a second.
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
So why did you put Ariste in you post? That's what's confusing me, Nigel.Moonraker wrote:It is spelt Aristide, not Ariste, Dave.No, Nigel. Your post seemed to be suggesting that Ariste should be pronounced 'Ari-steed'.
Dave
He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green.
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- pete9012S
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
...
Pierrot..........................................................Poirot
I'm sure it was just a minor oversight Dave.
Talking of Agatha Christie characters, I remember my dear old Nan giving me my first Agatha Christie book in the early 1970's. I was still a bit too young to read them, but she surmised correctly that my supply of Enid Blyton books wouldn't last forever.
She was a well read, educated lady. She handed me a large print version of Curtain, the last Poirot book to start me off.
A very strange choice I've always thought. She told me the detective's name was Poirot , but she prounounced it Pierrot, even though she knew this was incorrect...
Every time I hear the word Pierrot it still makes me smile and remember her fondly...
Pierrot..........................................................Poirot
I'm sure it was just a minor oversight Dave.
Talking of Agatha Christie characters, I remember my dear old Nan giving me my first Agatha Christie book in the early 1970's. I was still a bit too young to read them, but she surmised correctly that my supply of Enid Blyton books wouldn't last forever.
She was a well read, educated lady. She handed me a large print version of Curtain, the last Poirot book to start me off.
A very strange choice I've always thought. She told me the detective's name was Poirot , but she prounounced it Pierrot, even though she knew this was incorrect...
Every time I hear the word Pierrot it still makes me smile and remember her fondly...
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
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- Courtenay
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Re: English Grammar, Spelling and Vocabulary
My mum, when she first started reading Agatha Christie, pronounced his name as Hercules Pirate, though I think she also knew that wasn't correct! (Mind you, in the case of her infamous rendition of Noddy's car horn sound as "prap prap", she still refuses to accept the correct version, so I think she genuinely did misread it and believed she had it right...)pete9012S wrote:She told me the detective's name was Poirot , but she prounounced it Pierrot, even though she knew this was incorrect...
Every time I hear the word Pierrot it still makes me smile and remember her fondly...
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)