Topic: CEF
Some Difficult War Names
How They Are Pronounced
The Sydney Mail, 23 December 1914
Although this article isn't specifically about the CEF, it has been tagged as such to keep it with other First World War material.
Study of the war news and maps leaves the newspaper reader in the dark as to how the names of many of the places referred to should be pronounced. When the Germans first crossed into Belgium discussions were common on the question of pronunciation. One said Leeje, the other Li-eeje. Neither was right. The battered fort is pronounced Le-azh. Similarly there have been disputed as to what Ypres should be called. It has to suffer anything from Y-preeze to Yipray. Its now scattered townspeople call it Ee-p'r. The following list shows the correct pronunciation of some of the chief centres of fighting:—
Belgium
| Ypres | Ee-p'r |
| Dixmude | De-mud or Dis'mud (u heavy) |
| Thourout | Too-roo |
| Liege | Le-azh (a heavy) |
| Bruges | Broozh |
| Charleroi | Sha-leh-rwa |
| Ghent | Gent (French Gong) |
| Ostend | (Accent on second syllable.) |
France
| Rheims | Reemz (French Rahnz) |
| Lille | Leel |
| Armentieres | Ar-mong'te-air |
| Aisne | Ain |
| Oise | Wahs (a as in far) |
| Meuse | Muz (u as in fur) |
| Arras | (Accent on second syllable.) |
| Compeigne | Kom-pe-ain (e light) |
| La Bassee | Lah-bas-say (final a heavy) |
| Calais | Kal'ay (final a heavy) |
| Vosges | (long o) |
Russia
| Wloclawek | Vlotslavek |
| Przemysl | Zhem-is'l |
| Jaraslau | Ya-ro-slow (final o obscure) |
| Kielce | Kyel-tsch |
| Czenstochowo | Chens-to-kova |
| Cracow | Krako (a and o heavy) |
| Warthe | Var-the |
| Warsaw | Var-sha'va (accent on middle syllable) |
While the above conveys the nearest approach to the local pronunciation that can be given in ordinary English characters, it is not considered incorrect to pronounce a foreign name or word in the manner in which the English spelling would ordinarily indicate; for none could be expected to memorise the peculiar pronunciations of every language on earth.
Follow 