20 SEPTEMBER 2008, Page 24

Joining the Dots

Sir: Following Dot Wordsworth’s article on pronouncing surnames (Mind Your Language, 6 September), what about Pritchard — how many people with the name rhyme it with Richard, and how many emphasise the second syllable? Should Barnard be ‘Barnud’ or ‘Bah-nahd’? And should Irvine be ‘Er-vine’ or ‘Ervin’, like the Scottish town?

David W. Lloyd

Harlow, Essex