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Are you in Devon/ Cornwall? How do you pronounce Launceston?

74 replies

Fordian · 19/09/2021 22:28

Genuinely interested.

I grew up with a very definite way from my mum and her sister, and subsequently, born '31, 33 and '45; but I don't hear it pronounced that way anymore.

How would you pronounce it (phonetically)?

OP posts:
Kezzie200 · 20/09/2021 21:12

Lan-son

Definitely

WutheredOut · 20/09/2021 22:30

@Ughmaybenot

Ooo I have another …. Biddeford is (I think) pronounces Bid eh fud - please correct me if I’m wrong Pronunciation is right, spelling is wrong, only two ‘d’s in Bideford.
Sorry! I realised that after I posted!!!! 🤦‍♀️
Kezzie200 · 21/09/2021 02:06

Bid e fud

Kezzie200 · 21/09/2021 02:08

Try Woolfardisworthy!

Wool ser eee (Woolsery)

Not sure if that's it's nickname given how far apart it is from the original spelling

480Widdio · 21/09/2021 02:23

My son lives in Lan son,thinkI will call it Lawn cess ton from now on,has a certain ring to it.

Seldon · 21/09/2021 02:34

I would say lawn-ston but DM would say lan-sun or lan-sum

ElGuardiandenoche · 21/09/2021 03:59

As a Cornish maid I always say Lansen. Also Snozzle and Snives and Foy and many other contractions 😀

I’ve traveled and lived all over the world but still come home to Trurrer, also been known to sing the Cornish anthem but prefer Cornwall, my home to Trelawny.

Torvean · 21/09/2021 06:39

@elQuintoConyo

Lawnst'n similar to pp ^
I agree. This is area my dad's from, and the only way I've heard it being pronounced.
Kezzie200 · 21/09/2021 07:07

I prefer Cornwall, my home, too.

Crazylemon86 · 21/09/2021 07:09

I pronounce it Lawnstun but I think locally it's Lansun

ElGuardiandenoche · 21/09/2021 12:02

@Kezzie200

I prefer Cornwall, my home, too.
It’s beautiful isn’t it @Kezzie200
imhavinghoops · 21/09/2021 12:24

Lanson me ‘ansum.

I’d actually probably saw Launston, with a very light T sound.

Fordian · 21/09/2021 14:22

Thanks everyone!

I say Lanson!

My mother went to school there and I still have many relatives there, who also say Lanson!

OP posts:
Tiggles · 21/09/2021 18:34

As a Cornish maid I always say Lansen. Also Snozzle and Snives and Foy and many other contractions
I always have to think twice when people don't call them by the above Grin but then I remind myself that I probably still massacre the odd Welsh place-name without meaning too.

Zeal · 21/09/2021 20:22

Mousehole = mow-zel

In Northaptonshire, Cogenhoe is pronounced cook-no. There are loads more, eg Godmanchester is gumster.

Snugglepumpkin · 21/09/2021 20:34

If you don't have a Cornish accent for the rest of the words you are going to say, you sound stupid pronouncing it Lan sen.
When Cornish people do it, it sounds right.
Lawns-ton is how most people seem pronounce it.

I spent many a Saturday in Launceston hoping against hope somebody had opened a new shop there as a teenager as my mother had an unholy love for Normans so we went there a lot. (not sure if it's still there but was a very cheap supermarket.)

Trethew · 01/10/2021 06:50

What about Hewaswater? How do you say that?

EnchantedWoods · 01/10/2021 09:16

@ElGuardiandenoche - How else do people say Fowey?!

EnchantedWoods · 01/10/2021 09:19

My friends mother moved down a few years ago. She is quite posh and used to say “St Aurstell” until her children told her to stop it Wink

SheABitSpicyToday · 01/10/2021 09:23

Lawnst’n, husband says lansun. He’s from there so he’s allowed Grin I’m from Fowey.

Snozzlemaid · 01/10/2021 17:39

@Trethew

What about Hewaswater? How do you say that?
Hues-water
Snozzlemaid · 01/10/2021 17:42

[quote EnchantedWoods]@ElGuardiandenoche - How else do people say Fowey?![/quote]
Visitors usually say Fow - ee. With the fow rhyming with cow.

Timeflyin · 01/10/2021 17:45

Lawn-ston but a lot of Cornish people I know say lanson

TheLesserOfTwoWeevils · 01/10/2021 18:02

If you're from North Cornwall, Lanson.

Anywhere else? Lawnston.

(Born and raised in West Cornwall, mother is from North Cornwall, I now live a short distance from Launceston in West Devon and used to work in the town)

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