Sorcha... pronunciations?

[pinkytheshrinky]

I know that for the most part this name is pronounced Sor-kha but I met a nice older lady years ago who was a Sor-sha - I do really like this name and it is top of the list for my new dc. What do you think?

I do also have two other dds with Irish names who's spellings have been Anglicised so I do have form for this....

What a shame, I was telling DH about this thread, and how good-natured it has been, despite the difference in opinions. I log on today, and it's all gone Pete Tong.

Credit to Maryz for trying to keep it light. I'll have a look at Chaos's thread; she's always got something to say!

Last word goes to my DH. I asked him if he was bothered by the fact that he is disrespecting his nation by "mispronouncing" our daughter's name, his response was, "I don't give a flying f*." So there you have it.

No knots here, its all very self explanatory. Is cuma liom sa diabhal.

You keep saying you're not bothered yet here you again with your long post. And I'm "daft" to use my own language? How quaintly colonial of you.

PS: find a dictionary, you don't seem to have problems understanding English words as much as Irish ones.

lol Cointreau -yes exactly

My Irish Dh couldn't care less either.

I cannot win here, I am not going to change my mind and absolutely no point to pretend I will so there is nothing to be done.

Thank you too to Maryz. I do appreciate everyone's advice but I just want to do as I please.

I have made another long post as this is my OP, and just being clear with you, there are lots of people here who use this name or know people who do. They cannot all be ignorant can they?

You are being insulting, rude to me personally and name calling. And honestly it has fuck all to do with Colonialism - get over yourself. Funnily enough you have no idea at all of my heritage which would make your 'insult' really amusing.

I am not bothered so much that you disagree with me, that is you right. I am bothered that you think it is ok to be so rude.

Did you really think I would bow to your 'superior' knowledge? like I sad, get over yourself. I just want to use a name - it is just not that serious.

Well said Maryz.. it made me cringe too.

one internet random gives an entire country a bad name?

Maybe if you're a hopeless drama queen.

Funny though Stoirin, you act as if one woman mispronouncing an Irish name is the end of the world, the denigration of a language and smacks of Colonialism too. You have gone way overboard, that is what they are trying to say.

Thats their reading. Its not the end of my world, its a minor irritation at most. But I've got time to kill, as apparently have you.

Well if this is how you treat people when they present a minor irritation goodness only knows how foul you are to someone who really crosses you. You sound like such an unhappy person to be so full of vitriol for someone who is not really doing any harm.

You have made something fairly light-hearted and good natured into something really unpleasant - well done for a good days work.

I was really enjoying this thread. It was nice that people could disagree to disagree even though some people were blatantly WRONG but have a laugh out of it.

Pinky (note the capital letter used), you're going to do what you're going to do. At the end of the day, it's a name and if you love it, your dd will love it.

But as much as you have a right to mispronounce it, as do many others, I think a lot of Irish people are very sensitive about our language, me included. There's history and cultural identity all bundled up with it and some folk will feel it more strongly than others when someone "attacks" the language, and I'm not saying you are. I just think that unless you're Irish, you can't understand how it feels to be "dismissed" especially when you know you're right.

I also agree with Maryz, it's never ok to speak to someone in a language you know they don't understand, that's deliberately rude. It's one thing to talk among ourselves as Gaeilge, but it's wrong to use the language as a weapon.

Off point completely, but does anyone remember the ad (can't remember what for) where the two girls are in a cafe talking as Gaeilge about a gorgeous fella at the same table as them and he asks them to pass the sugar as Gaeilge? Brilliant ad!

'They cannot all be ignorant can they?'

Hahahaha

Wouldn't it be hilarious if Sorcha (not Sorsha) became the next big thing in names? I mean, look at Niamh -- who would guess that such a ridiculous spelling and pronunciation would turn out to be perfectly within the grasp of the British?

Have you ever stopped to consider that people you meet and introduce your baby to, including your DH's Irish rellies, who hear the mangled name Sorsha are being much more polite to your face than you appreciate?

I mean, just because you have no problem with dismissive and ignorant remarks doesn't mean everyone else will be so 'refreshingly frank' for want of a better term.. (Just trying to put a positive spin on the cringeworthy spectacle you have provided)

lettinggo - I do think I was clear really early on that I would still do as I want. I am genuinely fascinated that there are so many Sorchas pronounced wrongly. I do think the pronunciation makes sense in the UK. There do seem to be a lot for something that is so wrong. I guess it is the same thing as the Caitlin thing and again I had no idea this was also a crime against Irish - I am guessing that most people don't.

I do understand the historical aspect but I am not carrying the can for that - I have never claimed it has been about that, this is not about honouring heritage in our family - it has just been a name I have always liked and actually has been a lot about the person I knew that had the name too.

What I honestly do not understand is why the Irish can import English names and adapt them but it is not ok for anyone else to do that. Lots of nations have an axe to grind with England, I am not ignoring that but does that mean that I cannot change something (along with a lot of other people it appears) without having the race/culture/history card pulled - Like i said I am not a colonialist - it is bloody absurd to say that when you don't know me at all.

I have taken a lot of stick on here and got really slagged off as well as being told I was fucking up my child's future (!) - sad that when people cannot get their own way no matter how right they imagine they are they then resort to plain nastiness.

I am appreciative of all the nice advice and input - I am not doubting the legitimacy of what you say (however I would still love to know why my pronunciation is so prevalent in Scotland) but getting fucked over is not very nice and I have taken more than my fair share here I think.

I know native languages are important of course but I really don't think that my little adaptation of a name is going to break the bank, so to speak.

Math - all the Irish rellies have English names as it goes so I would love to hear all about how they are so passionate about their language (which none of them speak actually) - Three generations of DH's Mother's family and not an Irish name between them. I just don't care what they think to be honest - it would be a bit hypocritical no? My Dh's Father is the only one who spoke and still speaks Irish as he was raised in a very remote area and even he has an English name! And he wouldn't give a monkeys for reasons I have relayed before.

I have met more people with Irish names in our Catholic school than in DH's family either in Ireland or America...

Do you really imagine I will be laying awake at night worrying about what distant family think of my daughter's name? Being paranoid that they don't really like it? errr no. They like the other two girls with their 'modern' Irish names - they were pleased as punch at those as it happens and they love the boys names too and they are Latin so no, that is not an issue

And for the record I would be appalled if this name was the next big thing - common I do not do

'What I honestly do not understand is why the Irish can import English names and adapt them but it is not ok for anyone else to do that.'

Here the key word is 'adapt', as in 'change the spelling and the pronunciation'. As has already been pointed out to you, with examples of Irish spellings and pronunciation of many names thrown in in case you didn't believe it, spelling has changed along with fitting the sounds into the Irish mould.

I don't know why you don't understand that following your own logic here would mean changing the spelling to Sorsha. Because that is in fact the name you have chosen.

Your pronunciation is prevalent in Scotland? Take a look at my earlier link. CH doesn't get pronounced SH in Scotland.

You give yourself too little credit in the giving as good as you get department.

Pinky, your last post epitomises how little you understand Irish history and culture. If you did, you would understand why there are no Irish names in your DH's extended family, and why they are flourishing now.

But it is prevalent in Scotland. Charles has been changed from the French pronunciation but the spelling has not changed... Sacha is another name which has been imported but the spelling has not changed. Charlotte has remained with the soft sha at the beginning - things are adapted to suit.

Why are so many people pronouncing it with the sha if it does not make sense.

I am not trying to 'give as good as I get' - it is just what I think and I really do think that slagging me off has been a bit over the top and absolutely unnecessary.

The pronunciation is widespread and there must be a reason. Maybe it is because it is close to Sacha that people assume the same pronunciation.

Blimey - can't believe this thread has got so heated. Slightly mystified as to why you would seek opinions on here and then ignore them. I really don't know if I could saddle my daughter with a name (and pronunciation) which could cause such controversy - I'm just imagining the poor soul having to go through life having to constantly spell-out, then correct pronunciation and then argue the toss. Alright for you - you'll be off the hook once she's out of primary school and old enough to speak up for herself - she'll have to spend her whole life doing it if this thread is anything to go by.

I don understand why there are so few names in their line but even now, even those who have been in the states since the 50's have no Irish named children or grand children. They all have classic Englishy Irish names as I have explained before - so to them they do have Irish names iykwim. My point is they haven't done it so it would be rich to criticise me - they wouldn't anyway, they are nice enough and I really don't think they care to be honest.

I haven't claimed to have any special knowledge about Irish history - I know roughly, I know the British have treated people bady but actually does everyone need to understand the language and history and culture of the country they pick a bloody name from? This does seem a tad over the top. My name is Greek, I am not sure my parents even knew that when they picked it - there are lots of variations in spelling and pronunciation too. It is not meant to cause offence but I will do as I want.

Actually further up the thread someone said that the Sorcha she had met in her office that day only ever explains herself to the |Irish and not in the UK - and it seems the parents of the Sorchas who have posted here are not encountering any kind of animosity from the Irish or English it appears. It is not nice to say I would be saddling a child with a dreadful name - it is not a horrible name - very very very few people will have any idea of how it is said and even less will take offence.

I wanted to know about pronunciations - I was asking people what they thought not 'please name my baby' - I appreciate the thoughts and input but I want to use it anyway. Is that not allowed?

I don't think it's a dreadful name - I just think it would be a PITA to have to keep spelling it and correcting the pronunciation. Call her what you like - but you did ask.

I have to spell my other children's names all the time and they are 4 letters each (let alone the poor girls' surname too) - all my children have unusual names so that is par for the course. I am not sure I will be correcting pronunciation though to be honest. And even if I am I will take the risk. I did ask yes but there have been some nasty things said which add nothing either way

I think it is much more likely that is I chose Sorcha with the Sorika or Surika or Sor-rah pronunciation for instance, I will find myself having to correct an awful lot more people than the one I have chosen.

Our DD Sorcha is 2 and no-one in the UK that we've introduced her to has ever heard of the name in the first place, so they don't care. My Irish in-laws, DH's extended family and friends (some of whom can speak Irish well) have never said one word either way on the pronounciation. Maybe it would be different if we lived in Ireland, but to suggest that someone with this name will be somehow scarred for life and hate her name is wildly over-the-top.