[Ansteorra] Pronunciation was Re: "Ansteorran: of or pertaining to the Kingdom of Ansteorra"

[Richard Culver]

________________________________

From: HerrDetlef herrdetlef at gmail.com

[Wihtric]  I blame the Frogs/Normans. :P  I believe we made some head way here though.


I've even suggested, if the "eo" is too difficult, to look at it as
"an-STAIR-ra" (since the diphthong represented here by "ai" is very similar
to the OE "eo" diphthong). It's been like talking to a brick wall. Maybe I
haven't been loud enough.

[Wihtric]  For everyday folk that is indeed probably the best approximation, since though many are not aware of it, many people do indeed make a diphthong of the vowel cluster in "air" as well.  Indeed at one time I was told to pronounce that like the ai in "Mrs. Baird's".

BTW, I was told off-line of your great qualifications.  I appreciate you entertaining a dialogue with an amateur hobbyist/hack.  I do not think my almost-finish BA in History at UNT matches your depth or Masters in Germanic studies from UT.  If you ever make it to the Central region, please let me know.  Would be great to talk shop at some point in person.

Wihtric

Why have I never heard this? This is what I've been advocating since I was
an undergrad, but I always hear "an-ste-OR-ra"....or even worse,
"an-ste-OR-ri-a". Is this just a southern thing?