Friday, May 03, 2013
for @DeathZen of the Twitterlands--
Message sent to Inogolo:
Name: Youmans
Pronunciation: as Yeomans: Yo-munz (rhymes with "no puns")
A certain party of four brothers who came to this counry before the Revolution were all "Yeomans." As spelling reform did not yet exist, their descendants tended to spell their names in various ways at various times--Yeomans, Yeamans, Youmans. However, the pronunciation often remained the same for family members who could pronounce consistently even if they couldn't spell consistently. (Others do pronounce in the way you have noted.)
Best,
Marly Youmans
9 comments:
Alas, I must once again remind large numbers of Chinese salesmen and other worldwide peddlers that if they fall into the Gulf of Spam, they will be eaten by roaming Balrogs. The rest of you, lovers of grace, poetry, and horses (nod to Yeats--you do not have to be fond of horses), feel free to leave fascinating missives and curious arguments.
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ReplyDeleteThank you, Marly, for your submission of a moderately persuasive argument, along with supporting anecdotal information.
ReplyDeleteWe'll be evaluating your claim during our next executive luncheon, and we will promptly inform you within 30 days of its conclusion whether you may continue to pronounce your surname the way we've always assumed it is pronounced (Inogolo's opinion notwithstanding).
Meanwhile, to avoid unnecessary confusion and/or conflict, please refer to yourself only as Marly Y. until we've announced our final decision.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
D.Z. Sczymzykylyzymzsky
Dear Ms. Youmans,
ReplyDeleteI suggest you return your name to the traditional "Yeomans" spelling and buy a supply of tiny sticky notes with the letters "e" and "o" printed on them so that you can apply them to the jackets and covers of your books.
Thank you,
Your Friend in Sticky Note Manufacturing
I think "Peabody" is a nice, homey name.
ReplyDeleteDear passers-by,
ReplyDeleteGood cheer and thank you for your various invitations, name-rectification suggestions, and unexpected comments. I shall be sure to act upon them in some way or another.
But for pity's sake! I have searched Inogolo and find no "Sczymzykylyzymzsky." This is confusing. And quite an unexpected surprise, given the source.
What can I say? If you go right to the top, there is often mystery. Also, if you peel an onion with entirely too much energy, one finds nothing but air in the center. Is this a Zen thing?
I too like the name "Peabody." However, I do find sticky notes a less than perfect solution. (I do, however, find them helpful with sheet music.) I also have a suspicion that Herb is also Alice. The internet is full of false identities and nomenclature issues.
Sincerely yours,
Marly Y.
Dear Marly Y.,
ReplyDeleteHold the line against imperial spelling, just as my people have held it against imperial pronunciation! Warmest regards,
Dale FAVE-yurr, (no matter what the Frogs say!)
Mr. Favier,
ReplyDeleteAnd there I thought it was "ribbett." How mistaken one may be...
Yrs,
Marly Y.
It just shows to go ya.
ReplyDeleteVerily! Merrily, also...
ReplyDelete