help with pronunciation please

[king william]

I have been reading the most interesting (and very long) book called "Sarum" by Ernest Rutherfurd about Salisbury and its history. How do I pronounce the "a" in Sarum - is it like "far" or is it like "hair" or is it like "fat"
I also have another word I am stuck on and that is "assize" - is the "i" as in "size" or as in "seize"
I have really enjoyed reading Sarum although at over 1300 pages it was a long read.
Robin
New Zealand

[geniecolgan]

Read the book, good isn't it. I've read his other books too, London, The Forest & Prince Of Ireland.  I'm reading his Ruska now but making heavy weather of it.

Assize is definitely pronounced with the "I" as in size.

I lived in Berkshire, not far Wiltshire and I'm pretty certain the local pronunciation of Sarum would be "a" as in far.

As you live in N. Z. I don't need to tell you that Salisbury is "Sallsbury"    Some Yanks have trouble with that.

[king william]

Many thanks, yes I did know how to pronounce Salisbury, but the other two defeated me, I am planning to read the "London" book but in the meantime am settling down to read Polly Evan's latest about Argentina, have you read any of hers, they are hilarious. There is even one about New Zealand
Thanks for your help
Robin

[geniecolgan]

I can't say I've heard of Polly Evans, does she write historical books?  The thing about Rutherfurd is he's done a lot of good solid research.

I was joking about Salisbury  ..... knowing damn well that's where some jolly good lamb comes from.

Enjoy your reading.
jc

[Arranroots]

Hi Robin

I love that book - def on my list of favourites!

I always pronounce it Sair-um.

You might guess that it was latin and hence Sar-um, BUT

The Romans called it "Sorviodunum". There was a battle between the West Saxons and the Britons here, after which the place was called "Searoburh". The Normans built a castle and called it "Searesbyrig" or "Seresberi". By 1086, in the Domesday Book, it was called "Salesberie". The site of the castle is now known as Old Sarum.
The origins of the name "Sarum" are obscure. It most likely derives from the fact that Sarum came into use when documents were written in contracted Latin. It was easier to write Sar with a stroke over the "r", than write the complete word "Saresberie". That mark of was also the common symbol for the Latin termination "um". Hence "Sar" with a stroke over the r was copied as "SarUM". One of the first known uses of "Sarum" is on the seal of Saint Nicholas Hospital, Salisbury, which was in use in 1239. Bishop Wyville (1330-1375) was the first Bishop to describe himself "episcopus Sarum".[1]

from Wikipedia



It is said elsewhere that Sarum rhymes with harum-scarum.

Salisbury is of course Sols-bree!!

I will be interested in the views of locals: pronunciations often differ even within a few miles...

kind regards, Arranroots 

[las camelias]

I live 15 miles from Solsbree (!) just over the border in Hampshire.  My father was born in Hampshire and he always called it Solsbree.  But I have traced all his ancestors back to 1688 in Wiltshire - is pronunciation in the genes?!  Here in Hampshire we say "Sawlsbury".  I found the pronunication topic really fascinating.  Thanks.

[Maggott]

I used to eat my sandwiches at Old Sarum skivving of from school dinners. It's Sair-um but Wiltshire accent makes it a little bit broader - say-urum.  Salisbury is Sall-sbry if you're a local.
Maggott

[dee-jay]

How about the Wilts pronunciation of the name AMOR?  I use the hard AIM-OR  but I know others use the soft A-MOUR as in French 'mon amor!  Which would be most likely in a broad Wilts dialect?

[Maggott]

Best guess would be Ahr-mer
Maggott