"You say "Iroquois", I say "Iroquois"" Topic

'Iro-kwoy' or 'Iro-kwah'?

Real French hasn't been spoken on this side of the Pond since 1759.
So it's "kwoy".

French language is IRO Kwah

Haudenosaunee. In Mohawk, the official language of the full Council, the overall name was Rotinonsionni or Hotinonsionni; the Seneca referred to them as Goano'ganoch'sa'jeh'seroni or Ganonsyoni; and in Tuscarora, they are known as Akunęhsyę̀ni.

But the original pronunciation was …kwah and we commoners, except when being pretentious or speaking French, say …kwoy. Though for a nation that pronounces Z as the French "zee" rather than the English "zed", it is curious. In parts of modern day Ohio, Tippicanoe rhymes with gooey not canoe. This pronunciation ruins the Harrison phrase rhyme "Tyler too, and Tippicanoe". So don't get too concerned – common usage, even quaint local usage, rules.

Thanks, it's as I figured, except it occurred to me that the number of people who saw the name written down in the C17th-18th cannot have been that many, and the word would first have been heard transmitted by French speakers, so I wondered if there was a a signficant minority of anglo phones that spoke as they heard.. If you get my meaning.

Am I right in thinking that 'Iroquois' is not an Iroquois (etc) word but Algonquin?

What did the Dutch call them?

Bill N;
"Customers"

Eric

Ear-uh-koy. But I'm from the south

I think Twain pronounced it "Chicago"

Oh for god's sake…..someone has to say it…it's pronounced "throat-warbler Mangrove"…

I think Twain pronounced it "Chicago"

No, I'm sure that was Abraham Lincoln

Iro-kwah here in Ontario.

Iro-kwah here in Ontario.

In other words.. in old Algonquia?

Ex-aunt-in-law was a member of the Council, even had to travel to the Canadian Mohawk reservation. She said "Ear-ah-koy", so that's what I've always gone with. (And I've heard people from Maine say "Ear-aw-coh-ees" and "ear-O-koyses")

My hovercraft is full of eels.

Yes, yes, yes
"Betty Goose Creature
Arthur 'Two Sheds' Jackson
Ron Vibbentrop
Brigadier Sir Charles Arthur Strong (Mrs)

Cardboard box? You were lucky!

Norwegian Blue. Lovely Bird
My nipples are bursting with delight!
Nudge nudge wink wink
'Watney's -bloody- Red Barrel'
The Mighty Scots Pine!

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy.

Tell that to the youth of today…"

Now- stop this. It is becoming too silly-
And probably rather suspect.

(Is this a five-minute argument or the full half-hour?)

Well, I have my answer, anyway. Richer than I could possibly have hoped for. Thank you, America.

Goodnight and good luck

17th C. French settlers would have pronounced the -ois ending "-way" rather than the modern "-wah" (Québecois may still do , for all I know). So the "American" pronunciation is actually a pretty close rendition, rather than a misreading of the written form.

For the record however, Z is "zed" in French as well.

17th C. French settlers would have pronounced the -ois ending "-way" rather than the modern "-wah",/q>

My word.. Who'd have thought it?. Does that mean Coureurs du Bois were 'Coureurs du Bway'?

Or was it merely when '-ois' was used in an adjectival form

Apologies. No idea what happened there. A formatting nightmare; and, obviously, the final question mark is missing.

Another sparkling endorsement of the need for one global language. Preferably Scots Gaelic; or Latin.