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  1. #1
    elizabee is offline Newbie
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    Default Help With Writing Pronunciations, Please

    I hope that I'm putting this message in the correct forum; I couldn't decide which one might be best for my issue.

    Surname: Bullard

    This name is pronounced two distinctly different ways by two factions of my family. I am writing about the difference for a project. How do I properly convey the different pronunciations in writing, so that anyone reading what I have written will clearly understand the difference?

    Most of the family pronounces the name as it has been pronounced historically, which sounds like buhl-urd with stress more on the BUL part of the name than on the -urd or -erd part of it: bull-erd.

    A smaller faction of the family has developed another pronunciation, it being more like buh-lard, or maybe boo-lard, with definite stress on the AR part of the name - maybe like it might be pronounced by the French. When I say it like they do, I maybe hear more the sound of bew or boo than buh: bew-LAR-d.

    I hope that I am explaining thoroughly enough. I did not expect this to be so difficult for me. I could just use bull-erd and bew-LAR-d, I suppose, but I'd really rather write it out properly, if I can.

  2. #2
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: Help With Writing Pronunciations, Please

    In standard British phonemic script, your names would be transcribed;
    (Bull-ard -) /ˈbʊlɑ:d/
    (Bull-erd -) /ˈbʊləd/
    (Boo-lerd -) /bu:ˈlɜ:d/
    (Bew-lerd -) /bju:ˈlɜ:d/

    Not the little mark like an apostrophe showing tha the following syllable is stressed.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  3. #3
    elizabee is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Help With Writing Pronunciations, Please

    Thank you so much, 5jj.

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