Not a Cranky Aversion

To the editor:

The pronunciation of the compass point “north-east” as “nothe-east” – and not the abominable “nor’east” – by old time Yankees on the Maine coast and Cape Cod (many coastal Maine families emigrated from Cape Cod) is not a cranky aversion to the conventional placement of the letter “r,” as in “I left my carkeys in my khakis.” If this were so they would pronounce “north-west” as “nothe-west” instead of “nor’west,” but “nor’west” it is. The treatments of “nor’-nuth-east” and
“nor’nor’ west” are cases in point, no pun intended. These differing pronunciations were part of a system to lessen confusion at sea. Thus, “south” when joined to “east” becomes “suth” (or “southe”) as in “sou’-suth’ east,” but when joined to “west” becomes “sou,” as in “sou’ sou’ west.” See Joanna Carver Colcord’s Sea Language Comes Ashore.

Bill Bunting

Whitefield