Some have mocked, but they are wrong to mock. And now that it is morning, and my head is throbbing less than it was, I will prove it to them. I have collated two lists. One is where the "ch" is from the Greek letter "chi", and where, therefore, the sound is "ck", or, allowably, as in the Scottish word "loch" (as pronounced by a Scottish person). The other is where it is not, and is therefore pronounced "ch", as in "chick". I have ignored words which have been insufficiently Anglicised, and are still too Germanic, Yiddish or Frenchy, such as "charabanc", to have been safely brought into the latter fold.
- Chi: perichoresis, Christian, chi (letter name), ichthos
- Not chi: chorizo, Ch'i (Chinese: life force), church, chocolate, French, chalice, chasuble, chest-cross (for those too squeamish to refer to a bishop's "pectoral")
Extra lists:
- Italian ones which are pronounced "ck": chianti
- Confusing ones which are pronounced "ck" which you're just going to have to learn: choir (more English version "quire", but re-spelled in the 17th Century to be more Latinate, which is fine)
If you don't know how to pronounce these words, some of which may be used in a liturgical setting (e.g. "we've run out of Communion wine, would you mind popping back home to fetch that half-bottle of chianti we had left over last night?"), then you're going to feel mightily embarassed. This is a church matter, and of great importance.
I'm off to find my shin pads, before the Archdruid finds her Slazenger and steel-capped boots.
The problem is that you are trying to eat something Spanish. As everyone knows, good food comes from Italy or France, not from Spain - except for paella of course, but no one pronounces that the Spanish way. So when the Archdruid and I see a food called "chorizo", with that Italianate "o" ending, we assume it is Italian and pronounce it as if it were, which would be something like "ckoreetso".
ReplyDeleteAnyway Spanish pronunciation can be so confusing when used in English sentences. Our hosts in California last year took us to a beach resort they called "Lahoya". It was some time later that I realised we had been to the place marked on our map as "La Jolla". I couldn't figure out why the Californians don't do what most Americans do and pronounce foreign names as if they were English.
- and what kind of well-ordered household would leave half a bottle of perfectly good chianti 'left over'? Eh?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Lady S. As in "The quire has drunch the Chianti".
ReplyDelete