Do you ever have pronunciation disputes? I remember working a pub a few years ago and the publican's asked me for a vayze. I eventually worked out that she was after a vase. We had an argument that went on for several minutes and she said, “Ok smarty- pants if it is a varze how come it doesn’t have an R in it?” “I don’t know” Later on that night I showed her my dictionary but she was unfazed about it. Some months later the night before Melbourne Cup day she came in with some roses and said, “I’m going to vayze up those roses” She also mentioned how her siblings were all sophisticated like she was and they would say vayze. She also claimed to know many of other people would say Vayze but when I tried to verify this they would all say varze. She then inadvertently put hot water in the vases after vayzed up those roses.
i have regular pronunciation disputes. clientele is a good one: by the oxford english dictionary its pronounced Klee on tell but some people (including the english) insist on saying Kligh on tell no amount of dictionary evidence will convince them otherwise one that surprised me a while back is pergola emphasis on go actually by the dictionary its PERgola emphasis on the per look it up
Have to say I say vars myself. As for pronunciation disputes. I've never had a dispute over it but wonder why some say castle as 'caastle, while otehrs just say 'cassle', same goes for dance etc?
Growing up in Vic and moving to SA I have noticed the following pronounciations: Lego - you know, the toy bricks? South Aussies say Lay-Go. No shit. Most of them have never heard it pronounced "leggo". Plant - they say "plarnt". Graph - they say "grarf". The first time I heard this, I couldn't understand what the person was saying. I thought they said "giraffe". I personally say varz but have heard it pronounced vaze. thanks, never knew that. "herbs" is another one (supposed to be a silent H)
