November 9, 2013

Dear Sir,

What’s in a name?

Well, quite a lot actually. Many times I’ve come across names that I’ve never seen nor heard of before, and I’m not sure how they’re pronounced. However, I do try to find out because it’s important to the person whose name it is that it’s pronounced properly. Some names are pronounced a certain way because of origin, be it Latin, African, Portuguese, French, etc but it is important if for no other reason than respect, we try to pronounce a name correctly. I have been told that many of the original Portuguese settlers in Bermuda actually anglicised their names to be accepted. What a shame they had to do that.

Which brings me to the reason behind this letter. The news media is especially bad in mispronouncing the names of two of our parishes, Sandys and Warwick. Both parishes named after people who although long gone, should at least have the respect of having their names pronounced correctly. It isn’t War Wick and Sandees, it’s Warwick (Warrick) and Sandys (Sands). ZBM has a new announcer who needs to be told how to pronounce Warwick. The Seventh Day Adventists also need to advise the overseas people they bring in who advertise on radio, how to pronounce Warwick. I also call on several of our politicians to learn how to pronounce Sandys.

J.C. Simpson

St. David’s