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Usenet Posted 18 years ago
English in UK

When and why "Rafe"?

The broadcast media seem to have decided that "Ralph" should be pronounced "rafe". I've known of, for example, Ralph Richardson and Ralph Vaughan Williams for most of my life, but suddenly and fairly recently they've become "rafes". Any justification for this?

Regards,
BS
  

Top answer

[nq:1]The broadcast media seem to have decided that "Ralph" should be pronounced "rafe". I've known of, for example, Ralph Richardson and Ralph Vaughan Williams for most of my life, but suddenly and fairly recently they've become "rafes". [/nq] "Rafe" is the traditional English pronunciation.

— Usenet

  • [nq:1]The broadcast media seem to have decided that "Ralph" should be pronounced "rafe".
  • I've known of, for example, Ralph Richardson and Ralph Vaughan Williams for most of my life, but suddenly and fairly recently they've become "rafes".
  • [/nq] "Rafe" is the traditional English pronunciation.
  • "Ralph" is a modern spelling-pronunciation, and hence associated with the newly literate in an age of general literacy.
  • The Norman "Radulf" (Radulphus) became "Raulf" - and "Raoul" in France.
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]The broadcast media seem to have decided that "Ralph" should be pronounced "rafe". I've known of, for example, Ralph Richardson and Ralph Vaughan Williams for most of my life, but suddenly and fairly recently they've become "rafes". Any justification for this?[/nq]
"Rafe" is the traditional English pronunciation. "Ralph" is a modern spelling-pronunciation, and hence associated with the n
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[nq:2]The broadcast media seem to have decided that "Ralph" should ... and fairly recently they've become "rafes". Any justification for this?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Rafe" is the traditional English pronunciation. "Ralph" is a modern spelling-pronunciation, and hence associated with the newly literate in an age of general literacy. The Norman "Radulf" (Radulphus) became "Raulf" - and "Raoul" in France.[/
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[nq:2]"Rafe" is the traditional English pronunciation. "Ralph" is a modern ... Norman "Radulf" (Radulphus) became "Raulf" - and "Raoul" in France.[/nq]
[nq:1]Read this* at uni fifty years ago, when the prof used "Ralph", not "Rafe". Googled the title today and couldn't ... The first English comedy was *Ralph Royster Doyster, acted in 1551, and written by Nicholas Udall, master of Eton College[
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[nq:1]The broadcast media seem to have decided that "Ralph" should be pronounced "rafe". I've known of, for example, Ralph Richardson and Ralph Vaughan Williams for most of my life, but suddenly and fairly recently they've become "rafes". Any justification for this?[/nq]
Vaughan Williams pronounced his name "Rafe" and hated it being pronounced "Ralph". In general, I think we have to go with th
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