I usually pronounce names the way they are spelled. That goes for Worcester, and Gloucester. I figure that if folks want it pronounced differently, they can change the spelling. I can live with changes in the language over time, like silent e's, and silent gh, but "Worcester" = "Wooster" is just too ridiculous. Even "ketchup" has changed its spelling from teh hopelessly outdated "catsup", and that's a far less important word. Though it is used more often, and I can see thousands of impatient people refusing to write "catsup" for ketchup. Is this a product of the whole word method of teaching reading in schools? If Billerica isn't bill - er- ee'- kah or bill -er -eek' @ (where @ is some sort of universal symbol for the scwa), that's still how I'm saying it! I can't imagine how good old fashioned solid feet on their ground New England stock, of which I am one, could possibly go along with Gloucester - Glooster and Worcester - Wooster. When did it get to be Glooster anyhow. When I was a kid, it was Foster from Gloster! Anyhow, it isn't a stupid question. Gloucester = Glooster could reasonably have people asking if bat is still pronounced bat. Yours, Dora Smith Austin, TX tiggernut24@yahoo.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "John D. & Peggy Ledrich" <ledrich@sssnet.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:57 AM Subject: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > Hello > > I have been on this list / digest for a while now and was wondering if > someone could tell me how is the name of Billerica pronounced??? > > I am a phonetic speller but this one I think is different than this OHIO > gal knows. > > I do know from a friend that Worcester is pronounced (Wuster), but the > other town I cannot ask her about. > > Thank you for you patience and assistance!!! > Peggy in OHIO -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006

To My Way or the Highway Dora Just because you are hard headed doesn't mean you are right. I was born and raised in Mass. and have always acknowledge the preferred pronunciation of any locale, to be that of those living there. I now live in Florida where there are different pronunciations of various names of cities and towns. I certainly do not plan to impose my thinking on those that live in Kissimmee (Ka sim me ) and not ( Kiss a me ). You sound like you just graduated from the GW school of pronunciation like "New clear" instead of Nuclear. Edbld in Fl. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dora Smith" <tiggernut24@yahoo.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 12:16 PM Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME >I usually pronounce names the way they are spelled. That goes for >Worcester, and Gloucester. I figure that if folks want it pronounced >differently, they can change the spelling. I can live with changes in the >language over time, like silent e's, and silent gh, but "Worcester" = >"Wooster" is just too ridiculous. Even "ketchup" has changed its spelling >from teh hopelessly outdated "catsup", and that's a far less important >word. Though it is used more often, and I can see thousands of impatient >people refusing to write "catsup" for ketchup. > > Is this a product of the whole word method of teaching reading in schools? > > If Billerica isn't bill - er- ee'- kah or bill -er -eek' @ (where @ is > some sort of universal symbol for the scwa), that's still how I'm saying > it! > > I can't imagine how good old fashioned solid feet on their ground New > England stock, of which I am one, could possibly go along with > Gloucester - Glooster and Worcester - Wooster. When did it get to be > Glooster anyhow. When I was a kid, it was Foster from Gloster! > > Anyhow, it isn't a stupid question. Gloucester = Glooster could > reasonably have people asking if bat is still pronounced bat. > > Yours, > Dora Smith > Austin, TX > tiggernut24@yahoo.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John D. & Peggy Ledrich" <ledrich@sssnet.com> > To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:57 AM > Subject: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > > >> Hello >> >> I have been on this list / digest for a while now and was wondering if >> someone could tell me how is the name of Billerica pronounced??? >> >> I am a phonetic speller but this one I think is different than this OHIO >> gal knows. >> >> I do know from a friend that Worcester is pronounced (Wuster), but the >> other town I cannot ask her about. >> >> Thank you for you patience and assistance!!! >> Peggy in OHIO > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006 > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.5/147 - Release Date: 10/24/2005 > >

Hi Dora, I believe the difference is how one person pronounces some word vs. how another does ... comes under the category of : do you do things the easy way or always do things the hard way ! (not you personally) (I'm always saying that to my friend - who always does things the hard way or the long way or the more difficult way.) But, this is another coincidence, as earlier this afternoon I was looking at a book on men who were part of the history of Cambridge, MA, and came across a man, named ... Forris NORRIS ! :o) (And, his first son was named, Forris Norris, Jr.) Betty (near Lowell, MA) P.S. The reason the name, Billerica, came up on the CT List is someone asked how to pronounce the name of a town in CT: North Grosvenordale ! The response was: Grove' nor Dale ! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dora Smith" <tiggernut24@yahoo.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 12:16 PM Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME >I usually pronounce names the way they are spelled. That goes for >Worcester, and Gloucester. I figure that if folks want it pronounced >differently, they can change the spelling. I can live with changes in the >language over time, like silent e's, and silent gh, but "Worcester" = >"Wooster" is just too ridiculous. Even "ketchup" has changed its spelling >from teh hopelessly outdated "catsup", and that's a far less important >word. Though it is used more often, and I can see thousands of impatient >people refusing to write "catsup" for ketchup. > > Is this a product of the whole word method of teaching reading in schools? > > If Billerica isn't bill - er- ee'- kah or bill -er -eek' @ (where @ is > some sort of universal symbol for the scwa), that's still how I'm saying > it! > > I can't imagine how good old fashioned solid feet on their ground New > England stock, of which I am one, could possibly go along with > Gloucester - Glooster and Worcester - Wooster. When did it get to be > Glooster anyhow. When I was a kid, it was Foster from Gloster! > > Anyhow, it isn't a stupid question. Gloucester = Glooster could > reasonably have people asking if bat is still pronounced bat. > > Yours, > Dora Smith > Austin, TX > tiggernut24@yahoo.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John D. & Peggy Ledrich" <ledrich@sssnet.com> > To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:57 AM > Subject: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > > >> Hello >> >> I have been on this list / digest for a while now and was wondering if >> someone could tell me how is the name of Billerica pronounced??? >> >> I am a phonetic speller but this one I think is different than this OHIO >> gal knows. >> >> I do know from a friend that Worcester is pronounced (Wuster), but the >> other town I cannot ask her about. >> >> Thank you for you patience and assistance!!! >> Peggy in OHIO > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006 > > ______________________________

Dora, You may not like our way of pronouncing words but we have been doing it for alot of generations. ANd if you have New England ancestors I dare say the talked like we do. I am proud of my New England accent . Most of the Texans I have known also have an accent that is interesting to say the least. I don't find it necessary to find fault with the way you do things-- please don't find fault with the way I say things. Judie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dora Smith" <tiggernut24@yahoo.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:16 AM Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME >I usually pronounce names the way they are spelled. That goes for >Worcester, and Gloucester. I figure that if folks want it pronounced >differently, they can change the spelling. I can live with changes in the >language over time, like silent e's, and silent gh, but "Worcester" = >"Wooster" is just too ridiculous. Even "ketchup" has changed its spelling >from teh hopelessly outdated "catsup", and that's a far less important >word. Though it is used more often, and I can see thousands of impatient >people refusing to write "catsup" for ketchup. > > Is this a product of the whole word method of teaching reading in schools? > > If Billerica isn't bill - er- ee'- kah or bill -er -eek' @ (where @ is > some sort of universal symbol for the scwa), that's still how I'm saying > it! > > I can't imagine how good old fashioned solid feet on their ground New > England stock, of which I am one, could possibly go along with > Gloucester - Glooster and Worcester - Wooster. When did it get to be > Glooster anyhow. When I was a kid, it was Foster from Gloster! > > Anyhow, it isn't a stupid question. Gloucester = Glooster could > reasonably have people asking if bat is still pronounced bat. > > Yours, > Dora Smith > Austin, TX > tiggernut24@yahoo.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John D. & Peggy Ledrich" <ledrich@sssnet.com> > To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:57 AM > Subject: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > > >> Hello >> >> I have been on this list / digest for a while now and was wondering if >> someone could tell me how is the name of Billerica pronounced??? >> >> I am a phonetic speller but this one I think is different than this OHIO >> gal knows. >> >> I do know from a friend that Worcester is pronounced (Wuster), but the >> other town I cannot ask her about. >> >> Thank you for you patience and assistance!!! >> Peggy in OHIO > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006 > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > >

I've lived in New York for the past 40 years, but was born in Minnesota and as an Army brat lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. I don't know what kind of an accent I have now, but I always try to pronounce the names of both people and places as they want them pronounced. It's just common courtesy. And when I was visiting Plymouth, Mass., some of my friends from the Alden Kindred teased me (good-naturedly of course) about how I pronounce "scallops." I said "skallops" and they said "skollops." Patayto, patahto. So now, is it Bill-ree-ka or is it Bill-rye-ka? I'm confused. Karen -----Original Message----- From: ancestors wanted [mailto:ancestorswanted@pembroke.myrf.net] Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 8:58 AM To: MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME Dora, You may not like our way of pronouncing words but we have been doing it for alot of generations. ANd if you have New England ancestors I dare say the talked like we do. I am proud of my New England accent . Most of the Texans I have known also have an accent that is interesting to say the least. I don't find it necessary to find fault with the way you do things-- please don't find fault with the way I say things. Judie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dora Smith" <tiggernut24@yahoo.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:16 AM Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME >I usually pronounce names the way they are spelled. That goes for >Worcester, and Gloucester. I figure that if folks want it pronounced >differently, they can change the spelling. I can live with changes in the >language over time, like silent e's, and silent gh, but "Worcester" = >"Wooster" is just too ridiculous. Even "ketchup" has changed its spelling >from teh hopelessly outdated "catsup", and that's a far less important >word. Though it is used more often, and I can see thousands of impatient >people refusing to write "catsup" for ketchup. > > Is this a product of the whole word method of teaching reading in > schools? > > If Billerica isn't bill - er- ee'- kah or bill -er -eek' @ (where @ is > some sort of universal symbol for the scwa), that's still how I'm saying > it! > > I can't imagine how good old fashioned solid feet on their ground New > England stock, of which I am one, could possibly go along with > Gloucester - Glooster and Worcester - Wooster. When did it get to be > Glooster anyhow. When I was a kid, it was Foster from Gloster! > > Anyhow, it isn't a stupid question. Gloucester = Glooster could > reasonably have people asking if bat is still pronounced bat. > > Yours, > Dora Smith > Austin, TX > tiggernut24@yahoo.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John D. & Peggy Ledrich" <ledrich@sssnet.com> > To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:57 AM > Subject: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > > >> Hello >> >> I have been on this list / digest for a while now and was wondering >> if >> someone could tell me how is the name of Billerica pronounced??? >> >> I am a phonetic speller but this one I think is different than this >> OHIO >> gal knows. >> >> I do know from a friend that Worcester is pronounced (Wuster), but >> the >> other town I cannot ask her about. >> >> Thank you for you patience and assistance!!! >> Peggy in OHIO > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006 > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and > the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 > months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > ============================== Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx

----- Original Message ----- From: "Karen Sullivan" <ksullivan@hvc.rr.com> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:57 AM Subject: RE: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > I've lived in New York for the past 40 years, but was born in Minnesota > and > as an Army brat lived in both Texas and Oklahoma. I don't know what kind > of > an accent I have now, but I always try to pronounce the names of both > people > and places as they want them pronounced. It's just common courtesy. And > when I was visiting Plymouth, Mass., some of my friends from the Alden > Kindred teased me (good-naturedly of course) about how I pronounce > "scallops." I said "skallops" and they said "skollops." Patayto, > patahto. > > So now, is it Bill-ree-ka or is it Bill-rye-ka? I'm confused. > > Karen > > -----Original Message----- > From: ancestors wanted [mailto:ancestorswanted@pembroke.myrf.net] > Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 8:58 AM > To: MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > > > Dora, You may not like our way of pronouncing words but we have been doing > it for alot of generations. ANd if you have New England ancestors I dare > say > > the talked like we do. I am proud of my New England accent . Most of the > Texans I have known also have an accent that is interesting to say the > least. I don't find it necessary to find fault with the way you do > things-- > > please don't find fault with the way I say things. Judie > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dora Smith" <tiggernut24@yahoo.com> > To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:16 AM > Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME > > >>I usually pronounce names the way they are spelled. That goes for >>Worcester, and Gloucester. I figure that if folks want it pronounced >>differently, they can change the spelling. I can live with changes in the >>language over time, like silent e's, and silent gh, but "Worcester" = >>"Wooster" is just too ridiculous. Even "ketchup" has changed its spelling >>from teh hopelessly outdated "catsup", and that's a far less important >>word. Though it is used more often, and I can see thousands of impatient >>people refusing to write "catsup" for ketchup. >> >> Is this a product of the whole word method of teaching reading in >> schools? >> >> If Billerica isn't bill - er- ee'- kah or bill -er -eek' @ (where @ is >> some sort of universal symbol for the scwa), that's still how I'm saying >> it! >> >> I can't imagine how good old fashioned solid feet on their ground New >> England stock, of which I am one, could possibly go along with >> Gloucester - Glooster and Worcester - Wooster. When did it get to be >> Glooster anyhow. When I was a kid, it was Foster from Gloster! >> >> Anyhow, it isn't a stupid question. Gloucester = Glooster could >> reasonably have people asking if bat is still pronounced bat. >> >> Yours, >> Dora Smith >> Austin, TX >> tiggernut24@yahoo.com >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "John D. & Peggy Ledrich" <ledrich@sssnet.com> >> To: <MAMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:57 AM >> Subject: [MAMiddle] PRONUNCIATION OF TOWN NAME >> >> >>> Hello >>> >>> I have been on this list / digest for a while now and was wondering >>> if >>> someone could tell me how is the name of Billerica pronounced??? >>> >>> I am a phonetic speller but this one I think is different than this >>> OHIO >>> gal knows. >>> >>> I do know from a friend that Worcester is pronounced (Wuster), but >>> the >>> other town I cannot ask her about. >>> >>> Thank you for you patience and assistance!!! >>> Peggy in OHIO >> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this outgoing message. >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >> Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006 >> >> >> ============================== >> Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and >> the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 >> months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx >> >> > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn > more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.5/147 - Release Date: 10/24/2005 > >