ekscrunchy

I just read in a novel (Old Filth by Jane Gardam; I recommend it, along with its companion, The Man in the Wooden Hat) that the British pronunciation of Darjeeling is "Datcherling." Is this the way the town's name is/was pronounced by a certain class of Brits?

Thank you.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/bo...ew/23gray.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/bo.../Thomas-t.html

Hanuman

It's "darling".

ekscrunchy

Thank you, honey! But is that true, or are you joking with me?

Hanuman

Yes the "j" and the "ee" are silenced.

Seriously though I'm at the Jazz festival in Hua Hin listenning to Eric Marienthal, Jeff Lorber,Joe Taylor etc and drinking a lot from the free flow at the Intercontinental beach bar so I have no idea!

Kathie

eks, I can conjure up a British man of the 18th century with a large moustache saying "Datcherling."

When I return from Sikkim and Darjeeling in December, I will report back as to what the people I enocunter say now.

indianapearl

Thanks for the book titles -- I'll go get them straight away.

Jaya

In India, it is pronounced "dar-JEE-ling". Just as it is spelled.

Kathie

Thanks, Jaya.

lcuy

Jaya has it right.

ekscrunchy

Thanks everyone! I guess it was only those harumphing, moustachioed Colonial types with ivory-headed walking sticks that might have pronounced it that way. The main character in the books I linked above is one of those. (But a nice one)

You guys probably all know this, but his nickname, Filth, comes from: Failed In London, Try Hong Kong.

Kathie: Your mission will be to turn up one of these types--there must be a few still holed up in their hill station cottages--and engage him in conversation!

Hanuman: Get a handle on yourself. Do not compromise the mission!

thursdaysd

When I was staying at the Windamere in Darjeeling I met a man who was introduced as "the last of the British tea planters", but I didn't notice any strange pronunciations.

Jaya

That was fun. Any other Indian words you want to verify?

magical

(From Merriam Webster dictionary)
Main Entry: Dar·jee·ling
Pronunciation: \där-ˈjē-liŋ\
Function: noun
Etymology: Darjeeling, India
Date: 1895
: a tea of high quality grown especially in the mountainous districts of northern India

eks, This is from 1895....hope this helps. Granted things have gotten better since then (Maybe not for the Brits!).lol.

Bokhara2

Ekscrunhy, thanks for reminding me of "Old Filth". Wonderful book - I'll order, "The Man in the Wooden Hat" tonight.

Someone recommended The Book Depository UK to me, and I think it's great. Excellent prices and books delivered to Australia in under 5 days. www.bookdepository.co.uk

We've always pronounced the tea, "Dar jeee ling"

ekscrunchy

Bokhara: So glad to have reminded you. Both are really good books and I think I liked the Man in the Wooden Hat even better than Old Filth.

Jaya: I will come up with a few--this could be interesting!

thursdaysd

magical - but Merriam-Webster is a US dictionary and eks was asking about UK pronunciation...

I checked my Concise Oxford, it's not listed there, but askoxford.com has: Darjeeling /daar<b>jee</b>ling/

indianapearl

Just finished "Old Filth." Great! Now on the "The Man in the Wooden Hat." Thanks for the suggestions!