Pronunciation of "Cirencester"

[nq:1]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "siren sester"? Or is it one of those English things where it's pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
It's pronounced "Siren sester" by most Brits, but there are rumours that some folk say "Sissiter".
Compare "Bicester", which is pronounced "Bister". I assume Frocester is Froster.
Matti

[nq:2]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "siren ... pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
[nq:1]It's pronounced "Siren sester" by most Brits, but there are rumours that some folk say "Sissiter". Compare "Bicester", which is pronounced "Bister". I assume Frocester is Froster.[/nq]
"Leicester", of course, is "lie cess ter".

[nq:2]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "siren ... pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
[nq:1]It's pronounced "Siren sester" by most Brits, but there are rumours that some folk say "Sissiter".[/nq]
We've been here before - ISTR Jacqui telling us that it was just Siren.
[nq:1]Compare "Bicester", which is pronounced "Bister".

[nq:1]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "siren sester"? Or is it one of those English things where it's pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
That's 'Fanshaw'.
No, you're right, it's Siren Sester, got a lot of roundabouts and an agricultural college, not high on my tourist destination recommendations.
DC, pronounced 'Chumley'

[nq:1]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "sirensester"? Or is it one of those English things where it's pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
There used to be a "sister" school of thought, but I've never heard it from a Glos native, so perhaps it was one of those British upper-class shibboleths, or another sad victim of universal lite

[nq:2]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "siren ... pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's 'Fanshaw'. No, you're right, it's Siren Sester, got a lot of roundabouts and an agricultural college, not high on my tourist destination recommendations.[/nq]
I once heard it pronounced Zoy-ren. The speaker might not have been a

[nq:1]Is it naive to hope that "Cirencester" is pronounced "siren sester"? Or is it one of those English things where it's pronounced "cinchister" or "sinister" or, for that matter, "metal polish"?[/nq]
It is always naive to think any English placename can be pronounced from its spelling. 'London' is pronounced >'bVnsn->, for example.

More seriously, even though all of &g

[nq:2]It's pronounced "Siren sester" by most Brits, but there are ... "Bicester", which is pronounced "Bister". I assume Frocester is Froster.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Leicester", of course, is "lie cess ter".[/nq]
And don't forget to try the famous echo in the Reading Room of the British Museum.

John Dean
Oxford

[nq:2]sester"? There used to be a "sister" school of thought, ... universal literacy. We've mentioned the matter in AUE, I believe.[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm a native of Gloucestershire (pronounced "Glostersher"), though I was born in Worcestershire (pronounces "Wusstersher"), and I can confirm that ... that is. I've only noticed antique shops and chi-chi boutiques, though it does have a Waitrose which c

[nq:2]"Leicester", of course, is "lie cess ter".[/nq]
[nq:1]And don't forget to try the famous echo in the Reading Room of the British Museum.[/nq]
Didn't they take the echo with them to St. Pancras, then?

Roland Hutchinson              Will play viola da gamba for food.

NB mail to my.spamtrap (at) verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam.  If your message looks lik