Paddy, not Patty (just in time)

[CelticAchrann]

Offtopic but I've heard Pennsylvanians who pronounced "water" almost like "wurder" and made a sound-distinction between Mary, marry, and merry.

As a general rule medial t's don't exist in spoken English; people imagine that they pronounce medial t's the same as initial t's but it's rare, only in certain words such as, ironically, many people's pronunciation of Wimbledon as "wimbul-Tun". To test it, say the word "tea" and carefully note precisely how you're creating the initial "t" sound; then say "butter" "bottle" etc using precisely the same sound that you used for the "t" of "tea", and note how strange it sounds. It's like you have to put in a pause in the middle of the word to bark out that sharp percussive "t". In the USA these medial t's usually become d's while in many places in Britain there's simply an interruption of the air-flow, or a glottal stop.

So yes in the USA (and in most English-speaking places) "Paddy" and "Patty" are pronounced the same. But they shouldn't be spelled the same!

Around Montgomery county Pennsylvania where I'm from we, for the most part, pronounce our d's and our t's differently. You make a good point though, we do make a distinction between the three Mary, marry, and merry's. I've seen a couple people get a little offended when someone pronounces the name Mary like merry.

[Lime]

To my mind, Scotland is deficient in this area and could do with ramping up the celebration of St Andrews day. Ensuring a public holiday is respected by companies trading in Scotland would be a good start.

I agree: the Irish get St Patrick's day as a public holiday. By my calculations we (the UK) should also be entitled to St Patrick's day, as well as St David's day, St George's day and St Andrew's day as a bare minimum. Letters to MPs at the ready!

[John_Carrick]

We get it as a bank (public) holiday in Northern Ireland. Employers either tend to claw back one of the 8 other UK bank holidays or don't recognise it.
John

[Lime]

I must admit that I do have a vested interest; St Patrick's Day is my Birthday!

[BBNC]

Never even heard "St. Paddy" in Scotland. I believe that, in the UK, all four patron saints' days are always formally referred to as St. Andrew's Day, St. David's Day, St. George's Day and St. Patrick's Day.

Incidentally, never heard of "Patty" as a pet-name for Patricia either. The normal here is "Pat", "Tricia" or "Trish".

Alan

Actually, I have an Aunt Patricia who was referred to as "Patty" by her dear departed husband, Uncle Pete. Don't ask how Edwin Robert got shortened to "Pete," that was before my time.

[BBNC]

While we're on St. Patrick's Day, how did corned beef and cabbage get to be a part of it? I'm having some, but only because the grocery puts corned beef on special. Got two briskets in the freezer right now. By the way, corned beef, cabbage and vegetables are wonderful and easy to do in the crock pot.

[piperdbh]

I don't know, but where did you find briskets in this area of the world? I've not been able to find any.



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[bikercelt1]

While we're on St. Patrick's Day, how did corned beef and cabbage get to be a part of it?

Irish immigrants couldn't find the Irish bacon they were accustomed to for Sunday dinner but they discovered that corned beef in the local delicatessen was a close approximation. Thus was born a confusing American Irish tradition.

[BBNC]

I don't know, but where did you find briskets in this area of the world? I've not been able to find any.

piper,

They are pre-packaged Murphy and David Corned Beef Briskets...found them on half price sale at Ingles in Weaverville. Marian says they were in the meat clearance area. Got them yesterday.



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[piperdbh]

I've seen the pre-corned beef, but I want a naked brisket so I can cure it myself. It just ain't happening.