How to pronounce "d'Urbervilles "??

[finefeeling]

I've tried quite some search engines and still haven't got an answer. Could anyone please help out with the pronunciation of the word "d'Urbervilles"? Thanks in advance!

[mykwyner]

In American literature classes we say something that sounds like "Derbivils or Derbervils."

[finefeeling]

I see. Thanks!

[BobK]

Originally Posted by mykwyner

In American literature classes we say something that sounds like "Derbivils or Derbervils."

In RP, we pronounce it with a /ɜ:/, but Hardy (and the people of his Dorset - especially in his day, but even now) would have pronounced both /r/s.

b

ps
If mad-ox is listening, this is an example of one of those D surnames.

[BobK]

ps -
I've been thinking further about the difference between RP and Dorset pronunciations of the name. I've just realized that Hardy probably chose the name deliberately for that reason - that the way people pronounced it marked their social position - if I knew the text I imagine I could find instances where Hardy uses this.(perhaps someone being sent round to the back door because he pronounced the /r/s - something like that).

b

[mykwyner]

Yes, Tess's name is (if my memory serves me) is Darbyfield which the characters in the book considered a lower-class pronunciation of d'Urberville.