Pronunciation

[Phil]

Do Americans have difficulty pronouncing the "ch" in loch? I know it causes no end of difficulty for English people who insist on pronouncing it as "ck" as in lock. Think of Johann Sebastian Bach - you know the composer - they always seem to get that right. Lochaber is pronounced Loch - abbur where the "abber" bit sounds a bit like the Swedish group Abba only the bba bit is more like burr.

[Jock Scot]

Do Americans have difficulty pronouncing the "ch" in loch? I know it causes no end of difficulty for English people who insist on pronouncing it as "ck" as in lock. Think of Johann Sebastian Bach - you know the composer - they always seem to get that right. Lochaber is pronounced Loch - abbur where the "abber" bit sounds a bit like the Swedish group Abba only the bba bit is more like burr.

Sorry Phil the Abba sound is too short. the "A" in Lochaber is a long "AAA".

[Phil]

Sorry Phil the Abba sound is too short. the "A" in Lochaber is a long "AAA".

A lot depends on how you pronounce "Abba" though, doesn't it?

[beloitpiper]

Do Americans have difficulty pronouncing the "ch" in loch? I know it causes no end of difficulty for English people who insist on pronouncing it as "ck" as in lock. Think of Johann Sebastian Bach - you know the composer - they always seem to get that right. Lochaber is pronounced Loch - abbur where the "abber" bit sounds a bit like the Swedish group Abba only the bba bit is more like burr.

Ah yes, the Gaelic "ch". Not has throaty as German, but not as sharp as English. I speak a little German from my grandparents, so when I began to learn Gaelic, all I had to do was tone it down a bit and I was fine.

I think most Americans say "Lock", but on the other hand, I think most Scottish-Americans know to say "Loch".

[skauwt]

None of those! Lochaber is a district(like a small county) in West Inverness-shire centering on Fort William(ish).No doubt if you google Lochaber it will tell you the history.Basically the area name probably pre-dates the county name by many centuries.

ahh right the west highlands cheers jock or should that be aaaa right

[Phil]

Try here for a pronunciation you can listen to. - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lochaber%20ax

[Macman]

Try here for a pronunciation you can listen to. - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lochaber%20ax

Thanks, Phil, but that's not how it sounds to me when Kenneth MacKellar sings it in "The Road to the Isles". I'll have to go home and listen to my CD again!

[Big Mikey]

If you check signature lines, you will find that Hamish, The Wizard of BC and Big Mikey are all "Lairds of Lochaber". Howdy neighbours!!

[Draelore]

This is fascinating. Thanks for posting guys.

[Rex_Tremende]

Maybe someone could point to the sound on the chart?

Regards,
Rex.