h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Mm, I'd tend to use a short O, but I've heard it pronounced the other way.

I gave up trying to figure out how to pronounce English proper nouns. I just took a stab at them and hoped I didn't offend anyone. It helps that I've heard lots of them pronounced in movies and news reports, etc. But I know I still got some of them wrong. One in particular which figures in next edition's travelogue.

Marylebone is a good example of that. We have plenty around here as well. Canterbury's fairly obvious, but overseas visitors never guess how to pronounce Lyminge.

I haven't spent anywhere near enough time at the British Library. Whenever I go there it's for business, and you don't get to see the exciting bits then, just stuffy conference rooms and endless corridors. I have seen an exhibit about Tolkein though, including fantastic letters that he wrote. That was very indeed. Thankfully, I have had the opportunity to spend some time at the old library in Hereford Cathedral, inlcuding the Mappa Mundi and a copy of the Magna Carta. I went there with a geographer and a religious studies teacher - we were in absolute heaven!

I would have no idea how to pronounce Lyminge. Where is it anyway?

Hyp, the main thing is that you tried! I'm sre that will have been obvious to whoever you spoke to.

A quick guide to pronunciation:

Norwich: Norr-idge
Greenwich: Grenn-idge
Harwich: Harr-idge
Ipswich: Ip-switch
Northwich: North-witch

Broughton-in-Furness: Braw-ton
Great Broughton: Brow-ton

Scarborough: Scar-bruh
Boroughbridge: Buh-ruh-bridge
Middlesbrough: Midd-uls-bruh
Brough: Bruff
Slough: Slow (rhymes with ow)

Birmingham: Brum

Lyminge is in Kent, and has only two syllables. Most outsiders pronounce it as 'lime-in-gee', but the first syllable rhymes with 'gym' and the second with 'fringe'.

I think we probably name our towns in a deliberately random fashion so that we can laugh at tourists.

You might just be right!

Well it worked. Actually, it gave me a reason to laugh at myself, as well.

Elentari, I wish I had known you were so close when I was in Birmingham. You could have gone sightseeing with us.