Kawasaki Concours Forum

Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: Stephen.G.Fiddes on February 11, 2014, 04:56:03 PM

Title: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Stephen.G.Fiddes on February 11, 2014, 04:56:03 PM
Ok, dumb question apparently.

Because I'm American, not French (no offense to our French folk, my wife is part French so get over it) I have been pronouncing it with the 'S' this entire time. The first time I saw it pronounced with a silent 'S' was in a review not too long ago. Then recently I saw in a thread that its supposed to be pronounced with a "Silent 'S' ".


So have I been doing it wrong this entire time? (I had wanted one since I first read about them in 2010, and finally got a 2013)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: KawiMick on February 11, 2014, 05:02:48 PM
Concour is the proper pronunciation.    C14 works better. 

HTH,

Mick
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: BackInTheSaddle on February 11, 2014, 05:03:29 PM
Silent S is correct, but we'll talk to anyone about the machine no matter how they say it.  You an also forget the word and call it a GTR like overseas - in my opinion it should be the same here. ;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Stephen.G.Fiddes on February 11, 2014, 05:05:25 PM
Silent S is correct, but we'll talk to anyone about the machine no matter how they say it.  You an also forget the word and call it a GTR like overseas - in my opinion it should be the same here. ;)

Ha! That'd be ideal but then people would think I have a Nissan........ Yuck........
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: maxtog on February 11, 2014, 05:24:18 PM
Ok, dumb question apparently.

Nope, the only stupid question is the one not asked

Quote
Because I'm American, not French (no offense to our French folk, my wife is part French so get over it) I have been pronouncing it with the 'S' this entire time. The first time I saw it pronounced with a silent 'S' was in a review not too long ago. Then recently I saw in a thread that its supposed to be pronounced with a "Silent 'S' ".

It doesn't matter if you are French or not, borrowed French words in English still have a similar sound.   I was just talking to VirginiaJim to see if we could unpollute that other thread to which you are referring and move those postings to a new topic in THIS forum.  Seems you beat us to it... at least half way.

Quote
So have I been doing it wrong this entire time?

Yes.

The "s" is and always has been silent.  Of course, nobody will flog you for saying it incorrectly (at least I hope not).  As you probably noticed from the other thread, quite a few people have been saying it incorrectly and many probably will continue to do so, regardless.  The earth will continue to rotate...

This is a summary of the info I posted from the other thread, so hopefully all that stuff can just be removed there and kept here, instead.

The word "Concours" is well known in vehicles/racing/contests and is of French decent (French root: "a public contest or competition") and as such, the "s" is not pronounced.  The correct way to say it is kawn-koor (or perhaps more Americanized as khan-kour with stress on the first syllable).  Kawasaki didn't invent the word, so it is not a private proper noun with proprietary pronunciation.

The word can be examined here:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concours%20d%27elegance (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concours%20d%27elegance)
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/pronounce/american_english/concours (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/pronounce/american_english/concours)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/concours (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/concours)
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/concours (http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/concours)

Pronouncing the "s" would actually result in a totally different word, the word "concourse", which is "is a place where pathways or roads meet, such as in a hotel, a convention center, a railway station, an airport terminal, a hall, or other space."

If you still don't believe history, dictionaries, tradition, and other language rules, then just go by the only three official, Kawasaki-produced videos where the word Concours is uttered:

2010 Kawasaki Concours™ 14 - Official Preview (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGcWMCDYUUo#ws)
Kawasaki Concours14 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAPqBKtfZi0#)
2008 Kawasaki Concours14 Movie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-yklNHF8Bg#)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: ZG on February 11, 2014, 05:24:57 PM
I say concours.  :) 


Anyone that calls it a concour is an idiot and wears an ascot and has a silk hanky folded into a triangle in their chest pocket...  :)


Better yet, just call it a ZG.  ;) ;D :chugbeer:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 11, 2014, 05:54:06 PM
How do you know the earth will rotate?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 11, 2014, 06:18:33 PM
How do you know it won't?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 11, 2014, 06:21:38 PM
I say concours.  :) 


Anyone that calls it a concour is an idiot and wears an ascot and has a silk hanky folded into a triangle in their chest pocket...  :)


Better yet, just call it a ZG.  ;) ;D :chugbeer:

I don't know if I would go that far, Jay.  That's painting a broad swath with your brush.  I don't know of anyone here that fits into that category that pronounces it 'Concour'.  I happen to know some of those individuals and they neither wear an ascot nor have the folded silky hanky in their chest pocket.  I usually use C14 but when I do mention Concours, I pronounce it 'Concourse' of course.  Unless, of course, it's a GTR.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 11, 2014, 06:31:11 PM
How do you know it won't?
http://theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=55447.0 (http://theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=55447.0)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 11, 2014, 06:33:39 PM
 :banghead:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Cuda on February 11, 2014, 06:42:01 PM
I've always called it a ZG 14
I tell people it's the OLD man's version of a ZX 14
Max do you Iron your underwear?
ZG 1400 
 :grouphug::
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Gsun on February 11, 2014, 06:51:14 PM
Call it whatever you want, but Max is correct. He is into linguistics and that may be boring or uptight to some (won't mention Jay's name) but what turns one's crank may not turn another's. Get over it.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 11, 2014, 07:02:46 PM
A HUGE FWIW, I/we spent money on this awesome bike!!!  If I say it with an s at the end I bet it will be understood what I am referring to.  If I say it with a silent s I will get the same reaction.  If there was only one universal language around the world I could see a cause for great consternation, but, alas, that just aint so.  Get over it, say it how you want, and move on.

Let's have a discussion on You all, or Y'all and leave this great bike alone.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 11, 2014, 07:22:27 PM
I thought you'ns sold that great bike.  :-\
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 11, 2014, 07:35:03 PM
Indeed.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 11, 2014, 07:37:05 PM
[ puts popcorns emoticon here ]

 :rotflmao:

Brian

I thought you'ns sold that great bike.  :-\
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 11, 2014, 07:43:21 PM
The next great battle for world domination pits the ones that say 'Concour' vs the ones that say 'Concourse'.  The ones that say 'Ni' are not amused at this development however I'm sure we'll all get along eventually.

Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 11, 2014, 07:52:07 PM
Just as a matter of opinion: I believe correctly it is pronounced Concour but we tend to 'fix' it by anglicizing it so we pronounce the 's'.  We borrow words from other languages but tend to 'English' them up by pronouncing them differently. After a while, that is accepted as one of the pronunciations.

I think everyone does it in his / her native language and eventually the butchery becomes OK. Certainly the Germans do not pronounce Volkswagen as we (Native English speaking Americans specifically) do but I do not know that out way is incorrect, just the anglicized version of the identical word.

So if enough of us pronounce it incorrectly, for long enough and hard enough (easy boys!), maybe Concourseouse's will become an alternate pronunciation / spieling of that name?

Now let's discuss the correct way to pronounce Neanderthal!

Brian

Ok, dumb question apparently.

Because I'm American, not French (no offense to our French folk, my wife is part French so get over it) I have been pronouncing it with the 'S' this entire time. The first time I saw it pronounced with a silent 'S' was in a review not too long ago. Then recently I saw in a thread that its supposed to be pronounced with a "Silent 'S' ".


So have I been doing it wrong this entire time? (I had wanted one since I first read about them in 2010, and finally got a 2013)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: ZG on February 11, 2014, 08:32:16 PM
Porsche....


Porsh or Porsha?  ??? :-\
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 11, 2014, 08:42:25 PM
Pronounced exactly like the German word for 'Thank you', danke which is pronounced daank...ah. Just my humble opinion here but because it is a human's name rather than a languages' word, I think it should be pronounced the way the person with the name pronounces it. That said..... the actress, Rachel Weiss (Weiss is the German word for 'white').

Wice
or
Vice

I think the next one should be in honor of Virgina Jim.... Vodka.

Vodka
or
Wadka?

Or is it really Wirginia Jim?

Brian

Porsche....


Porsh or Porsha?  ??? :-\
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Rick Hall on February 11, 2014, 09:18:46 PM
Porsche....


Porsh or Porsha?  ??? :-\

Toy oat or Toy oat ah ?

Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: ZG on February 11, 2014, 09:23:47 PM
Toy oat or Toy oat ah ?


(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/Truff_Pix/yoda.jpg) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/Truff_Pix/media/yoda.jpg.html)


 ;D :chugbeer:

Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 11, 2014, 09:30:15 PM
Toy...yo... ta.

How 'bout that pesky one of late, calling coyotE's coyot's. ??? What is up with that. If the 'E' in not pronounced on the end of the name, the first name and initial, Wily E Coyot just does not sense? A national treasure, ripped from our collective psyche by the language police! And what if they are not right? Should we sick the polic on them? Put them in jal? For how many yars?

Terrible, terrible world!

Brian

Toy oat or Toy oat ah ?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Stephen.G.Fiddes on February 11, 2014, 09:31:48 PM
First off:  Crap! my bad, I didnt search for another thread....  I usually live in the maintenance/ mod portions of forums, not te open forums, and I hadnt seen it pop up there in the last few months.  Also, I may have been a bit on the drunk side when I posted it. (and it was only 1600! We finished our duties early...)



Anyways, what I'm gathering that theres really "no wrong way" to pronounce it, but the "right way" is the french way... (Not a bad thing, its a french word... Damn all of you who focus so much on political correctness that I have to lay this disclaimer... And if you don't care about PC, I congradulate you, and I'm sorry you had to read the disclaimer...)

I've never been one to really care about such things, I just plan on riding the wheels off of the freaking thing.  I just thought it interesting that there were so many different (2) pronunciations that were common for it, and dont exactly like sounding like a dömääss lol
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 11, 2014, 09:36:05 PM
I thought you'ns sold that great bike.  :-\
Yup!!  Sad, but true.  I just wasn't going to ride it much the next couple of years (I think in French the "S" is silent). ;)

In Poland Vodka is pronounce "Voodka"  I think we should start a thread to discuss the proper pronunciation of various booze, including beer. 
I'll go first,  "Coors", pronounced the same as a motorcycle known as "Connie", or ZG, or C14.  Say it slowly, "Con-Coors" ;D
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Rick Hall on February 11, 2014, 09:47:58 PM
...
I'll go first,  "Coors", pronounced the same as ...

... the stuff that comes out the south end of a horse going north.

Rick (the "S" is silent) Hall
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 11, 2014, 09:58:27 PM
... the stuff that comes out the south end of a horse going north.

Rick (the "S" is silent) Hall
_o, Hor_e _Hit?  Or I_ it Pi__?? ;D  If it I_ Pi__ wouldn't it be the _outh end of a Hor_e headed We_t? ;)  Thank goodne__ we _topped uing "_"  ;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Nosmo on February 11, 2014, 10:19:02 PM
I have two motorcycles, one is "The Kaw" and the other is "The Zook".  That's good enough for me.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: maxtog on February 11, 2014, 11:10:36 PM
I've always called it a ZG 14

That is one way to solve what is not really a problem

Quote
I tell people it's the OLD man's version of a ZX 14

Hey- who you is be callin' old?

Quote
Max do you Iron your underwear?

Nope.  But I don't call it "ooohn de arr way", either.

Quote
::grouphug::

:)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: maxtog on February 11, 2014, 11:14:33 PM
Just as a matter of opinion: I believe correctly it is pronounced Concour but we tend to 'fix' it by anglicizing it so we pronounce the 's'.  We borrow words from other languages but tend to 'English' them up by pronouncing them differently. After a while, that is accepted as one of the pronunciations.

To that I will just say "rendezvous"
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Cholla on February 12, 2014, 04:06:24 AM
Ha...you think you got it tough.

Moto Guzzi....

Goozee or Gootsee?

Hint: pizza.
When there is a correct way every other way is wrong. Saying it wrong won't make it right.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 12, 2014, 04:08:57 AM
I'm more of a Gootsee person...
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 06:17:42 AM
Yep, that is why I said 'tend', not 'do'.

Some French words we use exactly as the French do- debris (like this thread) comes to mind.

And never forget, the "e" in 'douche' is silent.  ;)

Brian

To that I will just say "rendezvous"
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: twowheeladdict on February 12, 2014, 06:39:51 AM


If you still don't believe history, dictionaries, tradition, and other language rules, then just go by the only three official, Kawasaki-produced videos where the word Concours is uttered:

2010 Kawasaki Concours™ 14 - Official Preview (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGcWMCDYUUo#ws)
Kawasaki Concours14 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAPqBKtfZi0#)
2008 Kawasaki Concours14 Movie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-yklNHF8Bg#)

You're welcome for that.   ;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: JoeRau on February 12, 2014, 08:02:49 AM
Does it really matter how one word is pronounced when almost no one can speak, or write properly in English?   I will include myself as well.  I don't claim to be an expert, but some posts are really terrible! 
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 12, 2014, 08:14:44 AM
Is that a result of a texting society or failure to use an education?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: clogan on February 12, 2014, 08:16:18 AM
My unscientific survey shows that the following words are more often than not mispronounced:

- Realtor, most often pronounced as Real-a-tor (I have never understood where folks get that extra syllable).
- Moot, most often mispronouned as Mute, rhyming with butte.

Or maybe this is just a southern thing? In any event, I call my bike a C14. It's easier to say and to type.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 12, 2014, 08:24:56 AM
How far south does a thing have to be to be called a southern thing?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Classvino on February 12, 2014, 08:34:23 AM
Is that a result of a texting society or failure to use an education?

Yes.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: jimmymac on February 12, 2014, 08:38:19 AM
Connie. Takes all the stress out of it. ;D
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: timsatx on February 12, 2014, 08:41:32 AM
I don't know/care what is the correct way to say it. I say it pronouncing the "s". EOS
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Cold Streak on February 12, 2014, 08:50:32 AM
I studied German for a few years and lived there for a short while.  I like their system.  You pronounce all the letters in the word.  If you don't use them, why are they on there?  Good old German efficiency.  So I say it with the s, but mostly call it a Connie. 
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on February 12, 2014, 09:08:43 AM
I say concours.  :) 


Anyone that calls it a concour is an idiot and wears an ascot and has a silk hanky folded into a triangle in their chest pocket...  :)


Better yet, just call it a ZG.  ;) ;D :chugbeer:

KISS ME ON ZEEEE LIPS RICKY BOOBY.... :-*

http://youtu.be/ptJQTT6byK0 (http://youtu.be/ptJQTT6byK0)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 09:17:05 AM
Yep, a lot of good things / ideas from that land. Like the way they have 24 hours in a day instead of two twelve hour groups. They also use the concept of 'Calender week' for dates instead of month / day a lot of the time. All of their calendars have a small KW at the start of the left row- instead of saying Wed., 18 March for example, they would state Wed. KW 22 (or whatever week that happens to be in the year). Slick system.

And by the way, even though a lot of native English speakers do not know it, English is a Germanic language. So is Dutch. A very different language group from, say, the Romance languages such as French, Italian, Spanish, etc. English grammar and structure aligns very well with German as opposed to the Romance languages.

Now, back on topic: if the Germans built a Concours, it would be pronounced "BMW" and boy- howdy would they have some trouble with BePass!

Brian

I studied German for a few years and lived there for a short while.  I like their system.  You pronounce all the letters in the word.  If you don't use them, why are they on there?  Good old German efficiency.  So I say it with the s, but mostly call it a Connie.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Conrad on February 12, 2014, 09:29:20 AM
My unscientific survey shows that the following words are more often than not mispronounced:

- Realtor, most often pronounced as Real-a-tor (I have never understood where folks get that extra syllable).
- Moot, most often mispronouned as Mute, rhyming with butte.

Or maybe this is just a southern thing? In any event, I call my bike a C14. It's easier to say and to type.

Is that you southerners who somehow put an R in the word wash?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: ZG on February 12, 2014, 09:34:52 AM
KISS ME ON ZEEEE LIPS RICKY BOOBY.... :-*

http://youtu.be/ptJQTT6byK0 (http://youtu.be/ptJQTT6byK0)


 :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:     :thumbs: :thumbs: :goodpost:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: JoeRau on February 12, 2014, 09:43:51 AM
How far south does a thing have to be to be called a southern thing?

I consider anything south of my location as "southern".  Since I grew up on Lake Superior, there is a lot of "southern".
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 09:46:26 AM
Maybe but isn't it a midwestern thing to put an r at the end of the word idea?

 :rotflmao:

Brian

Is that you southerners who somehow put an R in the word wash?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 09:48:10 AM
Moo point. Like it is a cow's opinion and does not mean anything....

Sooner or later someone has to mention "One felt swoop...."

Brian

My unscientific survey shows that the following words are more often than not mispronounced:

- Realtor, most often pronounced as Real-a-tor (I have never understood where folks get that extra syllable).
- Moot, most often mispronouned as Mute, rhyming with butte.

Or maybe this is just a southern thing? In any event, I call my bike a C14. It's easier to say and to type.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Conrad on February 12, 2014, 09:50:57 AM
Moo point. Like it is a cow's opinion and does not mean anything....

Sooner or later someone has to mention "One felt swoop...."

Brian

Or as I like to say it, "one smelt foop". It's a fish thing...
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Bergmen on February 12, 2014, 10:21:47 AM
Having lived in Japan, Honda is not pronounced "Hahn-dah" but "Hohn-dah" with a long "O". Nobody stateside pronounces it that way, should we get on their case for that?

In my case on the pronunciation of "Concours", I borrowed the spelling of "Concours" for the ZGRX 1200 Concours but it is pronounced with the "S", not silent. I can do that because I said so.

Dan
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 12, 2014, 10:28:08 AM
 :thumbs:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: MrPepsi on February 12, 2014, 10:57:23 AM
I'm with the S-is-NOT-silent believers.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Cholla on February 12, 2014, 11:46:10 AM
I studied German for a few years and lived there for a short while.  I like their system.  You pronounce all the letters in the word.  If you don't use them, why are they on there?  Good old German efficiency.  So I say it with the s, but mostly call it a Connie.
So why is the German store "Spar" pronounced, "Schpar"?

Concours pronounced with no s or e. And spelled with no e. Look right on the bike, fer cryin out loud!
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 12, 2014, 12:29:12 PM
And if there is more than one...? Concourses...Concoursi?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Cold Streak on February 12, 2014, 01:04:50 PM
Quote
So why is the German store "Spar" pronounced, "Schpar"?

It's actually Sh and that is the way they pronounce their S's whenever they precede a consonant.  I guess you could say they are pronouncing a letter which isn't written there, which is the opposite of the French who frequently neglect to pronounce many letters which are there.  When an S precedes a vowel it sounds more like a Z to us. 

I'm certainly no language expert, German, English or otherwise.  Just trying to reason why I seem to insist on pronouncing Concours incorrectly, even though I know the correct way.  I do always say Porsh-ah.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: jirod on February 12, 2014, 01:07:23 PM
And if there is more than one...? Concourses...Concoursi?
Les ConCOUGGRR , I guess.
 :nuts: :banghead:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Rembrant on February 12, 2014, 01:30:26 PM

And never forget, the "e" in 'douche' is silent.  ;)

Brian

Hey!...While we're on the topic of the "e" being silent....

I just got back from some training in the US, and how come y'all drop the "e" on the word turbine?

Or is the "turbin" pronunciation strictly a southern thing?...

Considering I was the only guy there from north of North Carolina....and I'm not even an American!

In any case, we pronounce it "Turbine", like the word "incline".

Wait a darn second...

Do you guys pronounce the word "incline", like "Inclin"?...hahaha. Ok, ok....J/K.

Didn't mean to get so off topic...
But, while we're on the topic of Motorcycles....how about all the variations in Shoei, Ohlins, and Akrapovic?

I know, I know....It's "Oh-Leens"....but I still pronounce it as Oh-Lins.
Shoei?....I pronounce it like "Shoo-ee"...always have.
A friend of mine says "Show-EE".
Whatever...lol.

Silly Vernacular....it is what it is;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 02:13:52 PM
I believe the word you are looking for is 'drunk'.

 :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

Brian

And if there is more than one...? Concourses...Concoursi?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Cholla on February 12, 2014, 02:23:10 PM
It's actually Sh and that is the way they pronounce their S's whenever they precede a consonant.  I guess you could say they are pronouncing a letter which isn't written there, which is the opposite of the French who frequently neglect to pronounce many letters which are there.  When an S precedes a vowel it sounds more like a Z to us. 

I'm certainly no language expert, German, English or otherwise.  Just trying to reason why I seem to insist on pronouncing Concours incorrectly, even though I know the correct way.  I do always say Porsh-ah.
The is a warehouse up the street from here that used to have the "Spar" company logo on it complete with the crooked S.
I was with a friend who was born and raised in Germany and that's how I found out how it was really pronounced. Sch or sh they both sound the same.

And forte pronounced "fortay" does not mean what you do best. It means loud.
The proper word is pronounced, "fort".
I bet we could come up with a bunch.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 02:24:50 PM
Actually a sound that the Germans cannot make is 'sch'. A Dutch friend of mine used to revel in getting them to say the name of the main airport in The Netherlands, in Amsterdam.... which is Schiphol. English speakers have no problem with the sound (like 'school) but native German speakers cannot say it quite correctly (usually, we are speaking generically here). Pe used to laugh and laugh when they said it (no love lost between the Dutch and German people). While on the same subject, Germans generally do not pronounce the letters 'or' correctly in English either- they have some multiple syllable for the English word "work" which is kinda' funny. I hope everyone understands here that I am speaking generally and not bashing anyone- I am actually a bit of a Germanphile but some of the linguistic nuances are pretty funny. It cuts both ways too- I have had more than a few smiles, chuckles and outright shakes of the head aimed at my German pronunciation too.

There are about 100 sounds a human can make. Most languages use about 40 sounds strung together. Once a human hits about 13 years old or so, he / she cannot readily learn anymore sounds. So when that person learns a new language, he / she does not learn any new sounds and so applies the 'closest wrong' sound they know how to make. That is the very basis of what an accent is, and why they run in families.... a native Spanish speaker speaking English sounds nothing like a native German speaker speaking English. We pick up on the accent by hearing the wrong sounds being used. A very common one is the sound 'th'; common in English but apparently absent in the Slavic languages. Listen to a Polish native speaking English and you will hear things like 'I went to the store wiff....' and so forth.

Then there is the whole confusion regarding incorrect spelling. Listen to a German pronounce "iron" and it will sound like 'I- ron',  exactly like it <should> sound. How we ever got 'i- ern- out of it I do not know.

Brian (I wonder if Concours ends in 'ski' in Poland?)

So why is the German store "Spar" pronounced, "Schpar"?

Concours pronounced with no s or e. And spelled with no e. Look right on the bike, fer cryin out loud!
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 02:29:30 PM
Careful with the y'all there 'cause a lot of us ain't y'all. You may not be able to tell us apart but we can certainly tell each other apart :-)

Some words just get their own pronunciation and it does not follow any rules. Pico and Micro, which one is pronounced incorrectly? Turbine and carbine, again one of them is a little off too, at least in common pronunciation.

The next question should be: 'how many syllables in 'New Orleans' '?   ;D   English has a lot of rules but apparently, not nearly enough.

Brian

Hey!...While we're on the topic of the "e" being silent....

I just got back from some training in the US, and how come y'all drop the "e" on the word turbine?

Or is the "turbin" pronunciation strictly a southern thing?...

Considering I was the only guy there from north of North Carolina....and I'm not even an American!

In any case, we pronounce it "Turbine", like the word "incline".

Wait a darn second...

Do you guys pronounce the word "incline", like "Inclin"?...hahaha. Ok, ok....J/K.

Didn't mean to get so off topic...
But, while we're on the topic of Motorcycles....how about all the variations in Shoei, Ohlins, and Akrapovic?

I know, I know....It's "Oh-Leens"....but I still pronounce it as Oh-Lins.
Shoei?....I pronounce it like "Shoo-ee"...always have.
A friend of mine says "Show-EE".
Whatever...lol.

Silly Vernacular....it is what it is;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 12, 2014, 02:34:17 PM
I worked in Remschied for a while and after a fashion, learned how to pronounce the name on the sign of the company down the street- Krupp Stahl. But I never quite got the hang of an 'oe' combination with an umlat on the 'o', at least according to the shaking of the head of Herr Loewer.

Brian

The is a warehouse up the street from here that used to have the "Spar" company logo on it complete with the crooked S.
I was with a friend who was born and raised in Germany and that's how I found out how it was really pronounced. Sch or sh they both sound the same.


Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: blue14 on February 12, 2014, 05:42:44 PM
Brian (I wonder if Concours ends in 'ski' in Poland?)

No it ends in "Toboggan"....
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: blue14 on February 12, 2014, 05:48:06 PM
Yep, that is why I said 'tend', not 'do'.

Some French words we use exactly as the French do- debris (like this thread) comes to mind.

And never forget, the "e" in 'douche' is silent.  ;)

Brian

There is an "E" in Douche, I always thought it was an "A"...Who knew?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: tweeter55 on February 12, 2014, 06:41:04 PM
I can't wait for the next 'tar' and 'ole' threads. Ought to be a little more interesting.
 :chugbeer: :chugbeer: :chugbeer:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 12, 2014, 07:21:01 PM
I can't wait for the next 'tar' and 'ole' threads. Ought to be a little more interesting.
 :chugbeer: :chugbeer: :chugbeer:
Did you mean "Tyre"? ;D
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Stephen.G.Fiddes on February 12, 2014, 08:45:22 PM
Well this thread went off the deep end... Should have figured knowing you guys... Hahahahaahahaha

As far as the extra R in waRsh or WaRshington:

At least the S being pronounced in Concours is actually there!!!  Hahahahaha
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Tremainiac on February 12, 2014, 09:10:24 PM
My bad German is good Yiddish.
As far as I can tell... :o
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Nosmo on February 12, 2014, 09:56:34 PM
I believe that New Orleans has two syllables:  Naw and Lins  (But I'm a Yankee so I may be wrong.) ;)

The "e" is silent in douche, but not in touché.

Does anyone want to take a stab at some Northwest names?

Puyallup
Sequim
Esquimalt (In British Columbia)
Stillaguamish
Kalaloch
Cle Elum
Pend Orielle
Humptulips  (OK you can pronounce it, but just try to say it without laughing.)
Geoduck (Possibly the most mispronounced word in the world. Don't try to cheat by Googling it, the internet has it wrong.)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 12, 2014, 10:31:48 PM
You left out Quilcene.  Home of the infamous Quilbillys.

Puyallup-Puppylips
Sequim-lets go fishing to get squeamish
Esquimalt (In British Columbia), eh?
Stillaguamish-stillsqueamish
Kalaloch-think smoked salmon.
Cle Elum-indian for great place to start a ride
Pend Orielle-another great riding area
Humptulips  (OK you can pronounce it, but just try to say it without laughing.)  Porn town
Geoduck (Possibly the most mispronounced word in the world. Don't try to cheat by Googling it, the internet has it wrong.)  Long necked bottles were invented after patterning the oversized clam ;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: blue14 on February 13, 2014, 04:31:10 AM
Puyallup is pronounced P-I-L-E-U-P at least it was at the MX track... 8)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Conrad on February 13, 2014, 04:41:13 AM
Hey!...While we're on the topic of the "e" being silent....

I just got back from some training in the US, and how come y'all drop the "e" on the word turbine?

Or is the "turbin" pronunciation strictly a southern thing?...

Considering I was the only guy there from north of North Carolina....and I'm not even an American!

In any case, we pronounce it "Turbine", like the word "incline".

Wait a darn second...

Do you guys pronounce the word "incline", like "Inclin"?...hahaha. Ok, ok....J/K.

Didn't mean to get so off topic...
But, while we're on the topic of Motorcycles....how about all the variations in Shoei, Ohlins, and Akrapovic?

I know, I know....It's "Oh-Leens"....but I still pronounce it as Oh-Lins.
Shoei?....I pronounce it like "Shoo-ee"...always have.
A friend of mine says "Show-EE".
Whatever...lol.

Silly Vernacular....it is what it is;)

Curly Takes the Stand (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxAk3B_zS5k#)

 :rotflmao:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: twowheeladdict on February 13, 2014, 05:27:48 AM
Come on Spring!  We just got 4" of snow on the TN, AL border.  More the further south you go.  Sure looks purty though.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 13, 2014, 07:23:29 AM
Looks like  :censored: to me, he says after nearly getting a heart attack getting it off the drive and that's with a snow blower...
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: B.D.F. on February 14, 2014, 08:50:53 AM
Me too- about 6 inches here (easy boys!) but it was the wettest snow I have ever seen. Even the blower didn't like it much and I was exhausted by the time I was done with the place. The temps. here are hovering right around freezing too so some of it is melting but tonight it will all free when the temps. drop to 20. And tomorrow they are calling for 1-3" during the day, and 1-3" tomorrow night..... I guess if you break it up that way it sounds better.

Brian

Looks like  :censored: to me, he says after nearly getting a heart attack getting it off the drive and that's with a snow blower...
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Stephen.G.Fiddes on February 14, 2014, 07:39:12 PM
Me too- about 6 inches here (easy boys!) but it was the wettest snow I have ever seen. Even the blower didn't like it much and I was exhausted by the time I was done with the place. The temps. here are hovering right around freezing too so some of it is melting but tonight it will all free when the temps. drop to 20. And tomorrow they are calling for 1-3" during the day, and 1-3" tomorrow night..... I guess if you break it up that way it sounds better.

Brian

After the snow and ice melted here, all we have left is flooding and gravel... Gravel everywhere... which I completely forgot about till I hit a pile mid-corner and almost washed the front... Thankfully I wasn't going very fast, but it got my attention quick!
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 14, 2014, 11:30:12 PM
So, is the "s" currently silent, as in "now"?

Just trying to get back on topic ya know ;)  Wait, is the "K" silent?  I'm confused.  Or is it "cornfused" in parts of the country?

Never mind, feel free to igsnore me 8)  I still believe the "word" came from the British acronym "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" :doh:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 15, 2014, 06:14:21 AM
As far as ignoring you, there's another thread going on that topic... ;)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 15, 2014, 08:44:18 AM
Curious, is the C or K silent?

And, what did Jim say? ;D
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 15, 2014, 10:43:30 AM
What did SOP say?
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 15, 2014, 11:27:51 AM
You are ignoring this user. Show me the post.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) :-*
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: ZG on February 15, 2014, 02:31:59 PM
What did SOP say?


You are ignoring this user. Show me the post.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) :-*



 :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 15, 2014, 06:15:38 PM
Ah, good times.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 15, 2014, 06:21:36 PM
Seeing as I got a 26 page letter of apology from Jim I have removed him from my ignore list.  What really saved him is the picture of his bike, it is Silverdammit, and thus he is worthy of being pardoned :salute:
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Strawboss on February 15, 2014, 06:28:59 PM
Silent "C", here you go.

http://on-cor.com/ (http://on-cor.com/)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 16, 2014, 07:02:37 AM
Seeing as I got a 26 page letter of apology from Jim I have removed him from my ignore list.  What really saved him is the picture of his bike, it is Silverdammit, and thus he is worthy of being pardoned :salute:

Thanks, Chet.   That makes me feel so much better now...  :)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: Son of Pappy on February 16, 2014, 08:11:48 AM
Thanks, Chet.   That makes me feel so much better now...  :)

 8)
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: freebird6 on February 22, 2014, 08:22:28 AM
My unscientific survey shows that the following words are more often than not mispronounced:

- Realtor, most often pronounced as Real-a-tor (I have never understood where folks get that extra syllable).
- Moot, most often mispronouned as Mute, rhyming with butte.

Or maybe this is just a southern thing? In any event, I call my bike a C14. It's easier to say and to type.

I found that I do not mind them pronouncing mute half as much as I mind when they write it on a forum. l loved a recent post that included the quote "for all intensive purposes". or use of the language, and for that matter, the lackadaisical teaching of same is deplorable. it seems that many just cop out and use the "you know what I meant" defense.

While I oft chastised my father for saying "illinoise" when I lived there, I do say concourse without a second thought. Great topic, funny, thought provoking and collegial responses. Well done.
Title: Re: 'Concours' or 'Concour'
Post by: gPink on February 22, 2014, 08:27:54 AM
That would be ILL-inoise.  :)