Thanks! This is also very helpful. However the only thing both you and Robert
Blank agree upon is the pronunciation of edth. Oh Vell...



Lazarus Freyjasgodhi wrote:

> > I am trying to determine the correct pronunciation for the ON origin of
> > my name, "Roderic." I understand the Old Norse origin of "Roderic"
> > would be spelled approximately Hroerekr, or Hrothrekr, or Hrodhrekr, but
> > the correct pronunciation eludes me.
>
> I'll take a stab at it. I may be way off, but I don't think so.
>
> > 1) Is the "h" in the "hr" pronounced distinctly before the "r," or is
> > the sound more like an "r" with aspiration, but without a preceding "h"
> > sound?
>
> Neither. In this instance, the /h/ is pronounced hard like /k/ or like 'ch'
> in "challah".
>
> > 2) Is the "o" hard as in "rope," or soft as in "rot""
>
> This depends. The /oe/ (if I am not mistaken) is the equivalent of an
> umlatted /o/ which makes it almost like a /u/ (to my american ears). The
> plain /o/ would be like "cot" (with a slight slur towards "coat").
>
> > 3) Is the ON character "edth" pronounced like the "th" in "Thor," or
> > more like the "th" in "then," with a vibration in the vocal cords?
>
> 'Edth' (/dh/) is pronounced like 'th' in "the" and "feather". The character
> 'thorn' is pronounced like /th/ in "thistle" and "with".
>
> > 4) Which r's, if any, are trilled?
>
> Only the final /-R/ would be 'trilled'. Using your examples, the names are
> made up each of two roots. The second root begins with a proper /r/ and ends
> in a final /-R/.
>
> hroe+rekR
> hro[th]+rekR
> hro[dh]+rekR
>
> Finally, don't forget that the /e/ isn't pronounced like an English /e/
> exactly (e.g., as in "pet"). It's closer to the /a/ in "skate" or "plate".
>
> Obviously, speakers of different dialects and languages will have different
> opinions of sounds. Listen to an argument between a Bronx-born Yankees fan
> and a Boston-born Red Sox fan and you'll be hard pressed to believe they're
> speaking the same language.
>
> -Laz
>
>
> Sumir hafa kvæ?i...
> ...a?rir spakmæli.
>
> - Keth
>
> Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/
>
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