On 20/11/2009, at 1:47 PM, Jennifer Crockett wrote: > I have never heard the name Modewarre pronounced and so am only > guessing. Is > it something like Mod-u-worry? > > Jennifer > Seventy or eighty years ago the locals would say something like "muddy- warry" (to rhyme with quarry), but I think it's becoming a bit more refined now, and, as Shirley says, more like mod-er-worry. The second syllable isn't stressed, so it could be anything. Compare with Waurn Ponds (Warren has become Warne), and Lara (once Larra until Doctor Zhivago). Marion

Fascinating hearing about local pronunciations. Also, I didn't know Lara was once Larra. It reminds me of this which was on the news recently: Residents in the far north Queensland town of Miriwinni are missing something and they want it back. They have formed the 'missing R committee' that is trying to have the spelling of the town's name changed to include a double R. Jennifer -----Original Message----- From: aus-vic-geelong-district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-vic-geelong-district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Marion Stainsby Sent: Friday, 20 November 2009 2:18 PM To: aus-vic-geelong-district@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [GEELONG] Modewarre pronunciation On 20/11/2009, at 1:47 PM, Jennifer Crockett wrote: > I have never heard the name Modewarre pronounced and so am only > guessing. Is > it something like Mod-u-worry? > > Jennifer > Seventy or eighty years ago the locals would say something like "muddy- warry" (to rhyme with quarry), but I think it's becoming a bit more refined now, and, as Shirley says, more like mod-er-worry. The second syllable isn't stressed, so it could be anything. Compare with Waurn Ponds (Warren has become Warne), and Lara (once Larra until Doctor Zhivago). Marion