HELP: How do you pronounce Northanger Abbey?

Naomi Lewin

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May 23, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/23/96

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I could use some pronunciation help on this side of the Great Pond.

Tomorrow evening I have to read from Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey
(my choice). However, I'd like to get the title of the book right
when I refer to it. There does not seem to be any kind of agreement
here on how to pronounce it, so I'm going to the source -- does one
say North-anjer; or North-anger as in anger, really furious; or
North-anger as in a sort of Cockney 'ang 'er?

Thanks for any help you can give, especially any speedy replies by
e-mail.

Naomi Lewin
WKYU-FM/Public Radio
Lew...@wkuvx1.wku.edu

Chris Ambidge

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May 27, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/27/96

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I asked this question myself of an English PhD student
(since graduated) at Queen's University in Kingston, ON.
She polled the people at her department, and their
universal verdict was:

Northanger rhymes with coathanger

and definitely not --anjer, rhyming with tanger(ine).

so what bit are you reading? The first chapter [with
the first reference to Base-ball?]

you could always throw in your consulting as part of the
introduction narrative -- if you have questions, probably
your audience will collectively have several pronunciations.
Then if they get miffed at what they perceive as you
"mispronouncing", you can say that you asked.

cheers

Chris
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Chris Ambidge / amb...@ecf.toronto.edu / amb...@ecf.utoronto.ca
chemical engineering / university of toronto
200 college st / toronto ON / M5S 3E5 // 416 978 3106

Jeff Drabble

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May 28, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/28/96

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lew...@wkuvx1.wku.edu (Naomi Lewin) wrote:

>I could use some pronunciation help on this side of the Great Pond.

>Tomorrow evening I have to read from Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey
>(my choice). However, I'd like to get the title of the book right
>when I refer to it. There does not seem to be any kind of agreement
>here on how to pronounce it, so I'm going to the source -- does one
>say North-anjer; or North-anger as in anger, really furious; or
>North-anger as in a sort of Cockney 'ang 'er?

>Thanks for any help you can give, especially any speedy replies by
>e-mail.

I believe I have shown admirable restraint here.

Jeff Drabble

Dave Budd

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May 28, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/28/96

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In article <Ds2o0...@ecf.toronto.edu> amb...@ecf.toronto.edu (Chris Ambidge) writes:

>Naomi Lewin <lew...@wkuvx1.wku.edu> wrote:
>>I could use some pronunciation help on this side of the Great Pond.
>>

> Northanger rhymes with coathanger

That kind of slightly implies a bit nore accenting on the ang than the er,
whereas, though I may be wrong, I've always given them pretty much the same
stress.
North-an-ger with the main stress on North and the rest about even.
No doubt many would say North-ang-er
Maybe that american who's trying to set up an interview with Jane Austen
could ask her.

--
Earthdate 960508: Creation of newsgroup uk.rec.sheds passed 60:25
Dave Budd +44 161 275 6033 fax 6040 D.B...@mcc.ac.uk
http://www.man.ac.uk/~zlsiida (officially open! but not very good)

John Lynch

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May 29, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/29/96

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In article <4ofmpu$g...@status.gen.nz>, Jeff Drabble
<jef...@central.co.nz> writes

>I believe I have shown admirable restraint here.

Yes, indeed, Jeff. I congratulate you
--
John Lynch

plu...@qualcomm.com

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May 29, 1996, 3:00:00 AM5/29/96

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In <4ofmpu$g...@status.gen.nz>, jef...@central.co.nz (Jeff Drabble) writes:

>lew...@wkuvx1.wku.edu (Naomi Lewin) wrote:
>
>>I could use some pronunciation help on this side of the Great Pond.
>

>>Tomorrow evening I have to read from Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey
>>(my choice). However, I'd like to get the title of the book right
>>when I refer to it. There does not seem to be any kind of agreement
>>here on how to pronounce it, so I'm going to the source -- does one
>>say North-anjer; or North-anger as in anger, really furious; or
>>North-anger as in a sort of Cockney 'ang 'er?
>
>>Thanks for any help you can give, especially any speedy replies by
>>e-mail.
>

>I believe I have shown admirable restraint here.
>

I was just thinking the same thing myself.