Speaking 'properly' or not

[davewitley]

Dina wrote:

> Hm, that would make the 'slang' of being called a 'berk', which I
> think is used in the HP books at least once, pronounced as 'bark'?
> 
> As Kathryn pointed out, there is no U (Matrix flashback: there is 
no
> spoon); however, from a phonetic standpoint of other existing
> examples, I'd pronounce it as I see it: Burk-sh-eye-er.

Berk is pronounced 'birk' (i.e. buh-k, given we don't usually 
pronounce 'r' after a vowel and before a consonant).

Berkshire is pronounced 'Barkshire'.

There are a few other words like Berkshire: Hertford(shire), clerk, 
sergeant, Berkeley (not the one in California) come to mind.

IIRC, Hertford College in Oxford is pronounced 'Harford', while the 
town is pronounced 'Hartford'.

David