Marylebone/Pall Mall

[hamster8 at hotmail.com]

Neil said ...

"Marylebone (derived from St Mary Le Bon) is pronounced MARRY-l'bone 
(or MARR-l'bone), but there isn't much of a pause between the 
individual syllables.  Pall Mall is pronounced Pal Mal.  Personally, 
I'd pronounce Salisbury as SOLLS-bree, but SAULS-bree is probably 
more authentic."

Just to add more confusion, central Londoners tend to slur the 
pronunciation of Marylebone to MAIR-BN or *even* something not far 
off MBN.

I have heard Pall Mall pronounced as Pell Mell as well.  I've always 
said SAULS-bree for Salisbury.

When it comes to pronunciation, it's important to remember that 
people to whom the object or place is familiar do tend to slur the 
pronunciation.  Alnwick, a town in Northumberland (where they filmed 
part of the movie, apparently) - you would think would be pronounced 
AULN-WICK but locals say ANN-ICK.  I have also heard (but am not 
sure) that people from Philadelphia pronounce their city as FUL-UFF-
IA - can any Philadelphians confirm?

*Al saunters vaguely westwards*