Rob's Sporadic Etymology Lesson

[Rob]

Edvard Grieg

Hey Karel,

You're a linguistic kind of guy, right? That's why I'm directing this question to you, though if anyone else knows the answer, feel free to chime in.

I was just listening to a hauntingly beautiful piece of music by Edvard Grieg called Death of Åse, from his Peer Gynt suite.

I know you're not Norwegian, but you're a lot closer to Norway than I am, and I'm often struck by the fact that your English usage is better than that of most for whom English is their native tongue. My question is: what is the correct pronunciation of “Åse” if you know? I'm curious. Thanks.

[Karel]

As far as I know, and could check, the Å is an O-sound. The typical O-sound however is made with a rather small mouth opening. The Å is what you get when you try to pronounce Oh with your mouth a bit wider open, more like for an Ah: a much flatter sound. On the web I have seen Å as oa in boat, but I don't think that is correct; the mouth is too much closed, and the sound is too "round", not "flat" enough.

In case this makes no sense (not unlikely), just treat Å like an Oh: Oh-se

Regards,

Karel

[Karel]

As far as I know, and could check, the Å is an O-sound. The typical O-sound however is made with a rather small mouth opening. The Å is what you get when you try to pronounce Oh with your mouth a bit wider open, more like for an Ah: a much flatter sound. On the web I have seen Å as oa in boat, but I don't think that is correct; the mouth is too much closed, and the sound is too "round", not "flat" enough.

In case this makes no sense (not unlikely), just treat Å like an Oh: Oh-se

Confirmation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_language#Vowels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-mid_back_rounded_vowel

The Open mid-back rounded vowels lie between o and a
in "vowel space"

Regards,

Karel

[Karel]

Sorry, but I really like this! In case you are not affected by the cot-caught merger, the Å corresponds to the vowel sounds in caught, law, walk and small. That is, as long as you distinguish in pronunciation between caught and cot, as the link explains.

I'll promise to stop now!

Regards,

Karel

[Rob]

“Death of Åse” by Edvard Grieg

That's all interesting stuff, Karel. Thanks. It was not my intention to assign you homework. I only asked thinking you might have already known the answer.

From those descriptions I have a pretty good idea about the way to pronounce the Å.

I'm assuming one would say the name with the accent on the first syllable and that the E at the end would be pronounced with a long A sound, as in "pay." I'm further assuming that the S in the middle of Åse would not be a hard S sound but more of a Z sound as in fez.

So in my mind it comes out sounding like AH-zay (not to be confused with AH-zay Osbourne or AH-zay Nelson).

Regardless of how the name is to be spoken, it's an unusually beautiful musical piece—one I would highly recommend everyone go out of their way to listen to. And there is no language barrier in music—well, instrumental music anyway.



Edit: I found a nicely done midi sequence of the song. It's not quite as good as hearing a real string section, but it's not bad.

[Lyehopper]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.......

When I was in grade school I learned how to whistle (and make bird sounds) with my mouth almost completely closed.... Used to drive my teachers crazy.... Guess that's why Karel has a better command of the English language than I do.... Ssssssss!

[billyjoe]

Lye,
We had a guy in high school who'd whistle the theme from "Lassie". The teacher would throw the wrong kid out then a couple minutes later the Lassie theme would start again. The teacher never figured out who it was.

------------billyjoe

[IIC]

Lye,
We had a guy in high school who'd whistle the theme from "Lassie". The teacher would throw the wrong kid out then a couple minutes later the Lassie theme would start again. The teacher never figured out who it was.

------------billyjoe

In my 8th Grade Algebra Class we had windows that opened out...4 levels as I recall...When the teacher turned her back we'd fire wadded up notebook paper thru the openings...The higher the window the more points you got...Something like 100,75,50 and 25.

It was pretty fun.

Also, in High School, I was Captain of the Varsity Ditching Team...Do you know that I NEVER got caught???

Oh...The Good "OLE DAYS"...Louetta would've been proud

[Karel]

When I was in grade school I learned how to whistle (and make bird sounds) with my mouth almost completely closed.... Used to drive my teachers crazy.... Guess that's why Karel has a better command of the English language than I do.... Ssssssss!

[Listening to Rob's MIDI link]

And why I am so jealous of people who can whistle really well. But even you can pronounce Åse, with the Å like the a in ball, the s like any old s, and the e like the a in about. (Finally good examples!)

And while I certainly like compliments on my use of your beautiful language, I am quite certain I give my status of alien away with those small errors no native speaker would ever make, however sporadically.

Regards,

Karel