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Jackson6612 Posted 16 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

Kirsty, MacColl, McGraw

How do you say Kirsty MacColl? Does "Kir-" sound as 'cur' as in 'curse', or as 'keer'? Why isn't 'MacColl' simply written as 'Maccoll' like 'Macmillan'? I have seen this irregularity being practiced especially when the name starts with prefix 'Mc-' as in McGraw'.

Please guide me. Thanks.
  

Top answer

in Highland names, there is no significance in the variation between Mac and Mc, and between the use of a capital or a small letter in the second part of the name, such as, MacLean and Maclean. The variation in spelling is easy to understand when one realizes that most people in the middle ages could not read or write. If a person could not spell their name, someone recording the name did so phonetically.

— Mister Micawber

  • in Highland names, there is no significance in the variation between Mac and Mc, and between the use of a capital or a small letter in the second part of the name, such as, MacLean and Maclean.
  • The variation in spelling is easy to understand when one realizes that most people in the middle ages could not read or write.
  • If a person could not spell their name, someone recording the name did so phonetically.
  • Different scribes used different spellings, and the same scribe might use different spellings within the same document.
  • Even an individual might spell his own name in different ways on different occasions.
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10 Answers
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"...in Highland names, there is no significance in the variation between Mac and Mc, and between the use of a capital or a small letter in the second part of the name, such as, MacLean and Maclean. The variation in spelling is easy to understand when one realizes that most people in the middle ages could not read or write. If a person could not spell their name, someone recording the name
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Thanks, Mr Micawber. But you missed the first part: How do you say Kirsty MacColl? Does "Kir-" sound as 'cur' as in 'curse', or as 'keer'?

It says:
It sometimes was simply a matter of chance that a family adopted a particular spelling, while other families, possibly closely related to them, adopted different spellings.'

Is "them" a referent for "family"? It
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I didn't miss the first part; I ignored it.
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May I know the reason for this?
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It is my prerogative. Do you wish to offer me employment?
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Of course, it is. I thought perhaps you ignored it because the pronunciation was too obvious. I was merely confirming it. And I'm sure there would be a lot of Japanese students who would love to hire your services and take advantage of your knowledge.
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Jackson6612How do you say Kirsty MacColl?
I would have to hear her say it first. Then I would say it as she does.

Nevertheless, from the usual ways of pronouncing that spelling, it would be said "cur" as in "curse". "er", "ir" or "ur" followed by a consonant other than another r (or word-final) are all pronounced the same.

Kirsty,
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Jim, thanks for stepping in to help.
CalifJimI would have to hear her say it first. Then I would say it as she does.
Sadly, Kirsty MacColl is dead. Furthermore, I couldn't find any video, interview where someone said her name. Though, the following link helped:

http:
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Jackson6612"that spelling" - What specific spelling were you referring to?
As illustrated: e or i or u followed by r followed by a consonant. So, for example, the spelling irs.
Jackson6612"word-final"
Occurring at the end of a word.

CJ
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CalifJim
Jackson6612"that spelling" - What specific spelling were you referring to?
As illustrated: e or i or u followed by r followed by a consonant. So, for example, the spelling irs.
Jackson6612"word-final"
Occurring at the end of a word.CJ

Nevertheless, from the usu
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