Pronunciation of Names and Places

Leebehr <lgrupsmith.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> observed
>I recently bought a copy of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe--the
>2-disk set. On the 2nd disk is some additional material that gives you
>some additonal iformation about the Pevensies' reign in Narnia. Both
>Archenland and Calormen are mentioned. Both are pronounced differently
>than I have always thought they would be (never actually having heard
>the names spoken aloud). I always pronounced Archenland with a
>"ch"--this version has the ch voiced as a "k". Calormen was rendered
>"CaLORmen". I always thought "CALormen".
>
>Considering the narrator was British woudl this be the British
>pronuciation or did Lewis actually set out the correct modes?

Like you, I can't remember having heard them pronounced (Though
presumably I have done through various BBC readings and plays.)

I have always assumed (and read to my children) the pronunciations that
you heard[1] - so that may be because I'm British!

Interested in other's views.

Mike


[1] "ArKenland" certainly, but there's
CAL-ormen
ca-LOR-men (as you suggest) &
cal-OR-men.
My pronunciation lies between the latter two.

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--
Michael J Davis
<><
Some newsgroup contributors appear to have confused
the meaning of "discussion" with "digression".
<><
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Digging for those mysterious rings...

Christopher J. Henrich wrote:
> >
> "Correct" is defined by "what educated people say."
>
> How do you know who's educated? By whether he talks correctly.
>
> After you have reconciled those two propositions, you can face the real
> difficulty, which is that the correct pronunciation must be that of the
> (English-speaking) (and educated) inhabitants of Archenland and
> Calormen.
>
> When you get back from your trip, please do tell us about it, and feel
> free to post photos on your web site.
>
> --
> Chris Henrich
> http://www.mathinteract.com
> God just doesn't fit inside a single religion.
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Michael J Davis <?.?@trustsof.demon.co.uk> wrote in
news:Gv8IEGGkyRCFFwtN@trustsof.demon.co.uk.invalid:

....
>>Considering the narrator was British woudl this be the British
>>pronuciation or did Lewis actually set out the correct modes?
>
> Like you, I can't remember having heard them pronounced (Though
> presumably I have done through various BBC readings and plays.)
>
> I have always assumed (and read to my children) the pronunciations
> that you heard[1] - so that may be because I'm British!
>
> Interested in other's views.
>
> Mike
>
>
> [1] "ArKenland" certainly, but there's
> CAL-ormen
> ca-LOR-men (as you suggest) &
> cal-OR-men.
> My pronunciation lies between the latter two.
....

I have always gone along with the assumed pronunciation of the root poster,
but that may be because I am a Yank too, and hence linguistically beyond
the pale

Seriously, I don't think CSL ever put down the "proper" pronunciation of
Narnian names and places -- maybe this was just the least of the things
that "wouldn't do" about the series in Tolkien's opinion. I would venture
a guess that whatever it was (BTW, I think we must regard Lewis' own
readings to the Inklings of the work-in-progress as "authetic", whatever
they may have been), it was far less important to him than the Christian
message showing through to his (nominal) audience.

RA
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