|
|
Post by Ferryman on Mar 10, 2006 15:02:15 GMT -8
I was just curious about this, but there are some names that I read everyday, but I'm a bit unsure of how to pronounce them.
How do you say "Vesuvius" ?
Is it, "Ve soo vee us", or "Ves uh vee us"?
What about "Skidegate"?
"Skide gate", "Skid ah get", "Skid gate"
I'm sure there's a few more I can't pronounce properly, but can't think of them off hand at the moment. I also noticed BC Ferries has a few strange pronounciations that I'm unsure if they're correct.
"Tsawwassen"
- I say it like, "Tah wah sen", but BCF says, "Sa wah sen"
"Swartz" Bay
-I say it as "Swartz" meaning how it's spelled, but I've heard, "Sch wartz" instead alot.
Anyone have any explanations to these?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Mar 10, 2006 15:04:37 GMT -8
Tsawwassen is with an S. Basically the reason is some intolerant white people came, changed the name around so it would fit into our pronounciation scheme better but also happened to screw it up. It was changed in the 90s as a recognition of the error. (To the S sound as opposed to T)
|
|
|
|
Post by Mike C on Mar 10, 2006 16:06:16 GMT -8
Vesuvius: ve-soo-vee-us
Skidegate: skid-ah-get
Tsawwassen: I always say it as Tah-wa-sen, but some people pronounce it as an "S".
Swartz Bay: Sch-wartz Bay
|
|
|
|
Post by Quinsam on Mar 10, 2006 16:09:44 GMT -8
Tsawwassen: I always say it as Tah-wa-sen, but some people pronounce it as an "S". Like me! LOL I always pronounce Tsawwassen as Sawassen. |
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Mar 10, 2006 16:24:34 GMT -8
Pronouncing it was a T is wrong. Sort of like pronouncing Canada as Sanada.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tsawwassen on Mar 10, 2006 16:26:10 GMT -8
Actually, it is pronounced with a "T". When the aboriginal people first seetled there, they pronounced it completely differently , with neither a "T" or "S" sounding at the beggining. The right way according to the corporation of Delta is to pronounce it with a "T". The "S" is incorrect.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tsawwassen on Mar 10, 2006 16:45:23 GMT -8
Everyone who lives in Tsawwassen pronounces it with a "T". Only those who live outside the community pronounce it with an "S". So as long as we're making comparisons here, it's like Ireland telling Kenya how to pronounce it's own country's name.
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Mar 10, 2006 16:56:34 GMT -8
The true Indian way of saying would be Sawwassen according to the Ships of British Columbia. It's like the Tachek is It Tay-Chek or Tah-Chek, or Quinsam is it Quin-Sam or Quin-Some, Or Kahloke is it Kah-Low-K or Kah-Low-Key, These names really are confusing
|
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Mar 10, 2006 16:58:22 GMT -8
Everyone who lives in Tsawwassen pronounces it with a "T". Only those who live outside the community pronounce it with an "S". So as long as we're making comparisons here, it's like Ireland telling Kenya how to pronounce it's own country's name. No it's not. The name's prononounciation was changed at BCFS as a sign of sensitivity towards culture. Being part of the ignorant majority doesn't make you right. |
|
|
|
Post by Tsawwassen on Mar 10, 2006 17:04:22 GMT -8
The city of Delta, which is superior to BC Ferries in the pronounciation of names of communities in it's own city still officially pronounces it with a "T". You can disagree all you want but It's officially pronounced with a "T".
|
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Mar 10, 2006 17:06:38 GMT -8
The city of Delta, which is superior to BC Ferries in the pronounciation of names of communities in it's own city still officially pronounces it with a "T". You can disagree all you want but It's officially pronounced with a "T". Oh I don't doubt that.... there's lots of things done like this which are simply wrong on a more holistic, rather than legal sense. |
|
|
|
Post by Scott (Former Account) on Mar 10, 2006 17:22:03 GMT -8
The proper prononciation for Tsawwassen is "Tah-wwas-sen", not "Sah-wwas-sen"... Natives do not prounce "TS" as "S"... Having a TS sound like S is a chinese pronounciation. For example, TSUNG is pronounced SUNG not TUNG.... Tsawwassen is not chinese  ... |
|
|
|
Post by Quinsam on Mar 10, 2006 17:26:16 GMT -8
Don't matter though do it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Mar 10, 2006 17:50:51 GMT -8
The proper prononciation for Tsawwassen is "Tah-wwas-sen", not "Sah-wwas-sen"... Natives do not prounce "TS" as "S"... Having a TS sound like S is a chinese pronounciation. For example, TSUNG is pronounced SUNG not TUNG.... Tsawwassen is not chinese ... They dont pronounce either, really... What is it like 3-4 phenomes are shared between english and a majority of native tongues in Camada. I was spelt with an S for a good 10-15 years way back. |
|
|
|
Post by Getting Technical on Mar 10, 2006 18:05:46 GMT -8
The historic pronounciation is "Chewasin". The modern day pronounciation is "Tsawwassen' with a "T". The "S" has no historical connection to it and is just a mispronounciation. It's a "T" officially folks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mike C on Mar 10, 2006 18:06:46 GMT -8
The city of Delta, which is superior to BC Ferries in the pronounciation of names of communities in it's own city still officially pronounces it with a "T". You can disagree all you want but It's officially pronounced with a "T". I agree. I reside in Delta. My dad's with Delta parks and rec, and they pronounce it as T, not an S. It's the same with council meetings on DCTV (Delta Cable TV). Graheme should have imput, as a Ladner resident. |
|
|
|
Post by jamesa7171 on Mar 10, 2006 20:46:43 GMT -8
The historic pronounciation is "Chewasin". The modern day pronounciation is "Tsawwassen' with a "T". The "S" has no historical connection to it and is just a mispronounciation. It's a "T" officially folks. Yes, I believe this is how it is as well. Chewasin seems to ring a few bells from my socials class as well... |
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Mar 10, 2006 21:40:13 GMT -8
I will, however reluctantly, weigh in on this one.
When BCFerries came along, and according to a 1960 Black Ball map of the area that I picked up, The only place within today's "white" Tsawwssen that was called 'Tsawwassen' back in '60 was Tsawwassen beach (that you can see below the bluffs from Tsawwassen terminal). In fact, some of the roads had comletely different (and forgotten) names before Tsawwassen was developed as a bedroom community of Vancouver (Such as Herd Rd. (16thave), Raitt Rd. (12th ave), and the most surprising, Tsawwassen's 'main-drag' (56St.) was called "Point Robberts Road" all the way to A.P.A. Road in the U.S.).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding the pronounciation, Cadieux & Griffiths' 1967 book 'Dogwood Fleet' states on page 17:
"Tsawwassen, pronounced 'chaw-wassen,' is from the Stallo Indian mean 'facing the water.'"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
On a personal note, I was raised in Tsawwassen and, although for a time there some of us called it 'T-Town', most people 'in-town' have always said it like this: "tah-wah-sin"
And as far back as I can remember, the Corporation of Delta (the municipality) has always officially referred to it as being pronounced starting with a 't'.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I've struggled with other words like this, but am reminded that North Americans generally pronounce a foreign word using the rules that apply to how they pronounce their own words. That said, if I was Potter... err I mean 'George' (The local Buisness monopolist), developing this chunk of land all those years ago, I would have promoted the names as they were pronounced by those who originally lived here.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a question: Have any of you passed Tsehum Harbour near Sidney? How do you pronounce it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Mar 11, 2006 9:45:27 GMT -8
The historic pronounciation is "Chewasin". The modern day pronounciation is "Tsawwassen' with a "T". The "S" has no historical connection to it and is just a mispronounciation. It's a "T" officially folks. Yeah there have been many ways in the past centurys to say Tsawwassen |
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Mar 11, 2006 10:39:23 GMT -8
I will, however reluctantly, weigh in on this one. When BCFerries came along, and according to a 1960 Black map of the area that I picked up oops... I meant to say 'Black Ball' map ----------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding the pronounciation, Cadieux & Griffiths' 1967 book 'Dogwood Fleet' states on page 17: "Tsawwassen, pronounced 'chw-wassen,' is from the Stallo Indian mean 'facing the water.'" Another typo, I meant: ...Tsawwassen, pronounced 'chaw-wassen,' |
|
|
|
Post by Starbucks Queen on Mar 11, 2006 13:42:41 GMT -8
Oh, cool - and I thought I do have issues with the english language.. though, I do pronounce "Tsawwassen" with an "T" AND an "S" make it sounds like Zzawwassen  Good though, that the locals did understand me when asking for directions right ? About mis-spelled name, it´s counterpart on the other side Swartz - bay I am sure is a victim too. The name has for sure German origins and should be "Schwartz" - but of course someone messed it up... Does anyone know though, WHY it is named Swartz - Bay ? |
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Mar 11, 2006 16:14:11 GMT -8
Considering that Tsawwassen is part of the Corporation of Delta, and the Corporation of Delta officially pronounces it with the "T" sound means that is the way its pronounced. Grammatically, when two consonants are together like that, you generally pronounce the second, while the first is silent. However, Tsawwassen is a proper noun, and therefore can be pronounced whatever way people want it to be.
Since the Corporation of Delta chooses to pronounce it a certain way most definitely makes that the correct way.
|
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Mar 11, 2006 20:09:54 GMT -8
Tsawwassen is a proper noun exactly. that the locals did understand me when asking for directions right ? Sure; I'm sure they'll appreciate it just as most francophones seem to appreciate anglophones attempting their language. About mis-spelled name, it´s counterpart on the other side Swartz - bay I am sure is a victim too. it was as recently as during the last storm that I heard a radio-reporter pronouncing 'Swartz Bay' as "Schwartz Bay". |
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 13, 2006 10:34:21 GMT -8
Yeah I pronounce Tsawwassen with a T. I always have, never with an S like Sawwassen.
|
|
...
Good though, that the locals did understand me when asking for directions right ? 