It's scone not 'scon' alright!

FX_Munkee

munckee said:

I'm a southerner and its scon, only person I've ever heard call it scone (as in stone) is my aunt from yorkshire.

However its irrelevant as its a sh1t dry cake, and jam and cream are for ladies : )

I'm from Yorkshire and the only person I've heard pronounce it "scoan" is Hyacinth Bucket.

Is she your aunt?

thecolourbox

wolsnah said:

Tone, which we all know about, with an S on the front, doesn't make "ston". It's a very similar word to (s)cone in phonetics so scone very much for me, none of that scon oddity

The "tone + S = stone" comparison only really works logically if the word has always been spelt that way. If you look at the etymology of the word, it rather depends on whether you think it comes from the German or Dutch word Schöne/Schoon (fine flour bread) or the Scottish Gaelic word Sgonn (mouthful, lump). On the basis that the word scone seems to have come from Scotland, one could perhaps surmise the Gaelic one might be more likely, but then it's possible that came from the German/Dutch before that so we aren't really any further forward.

Bridgehouse

Sadly, there is actually an etymological answer to this.

I will say up front that I think either way is correct. However, as part of my degree was early Middle English and the etymology surrounding our language, I feel I have to participate.

Most arguments will cite the “tone/gone” comparison. Both similar endings but different pronunciation rules.

In general (ugh - English doesn’t do general but ah well):

Tone is a Greek/French “classical” word by origin. These words tend to pronounce “oan”

Gone is Middle English from old Dutch and these words tend to pronounce “ohn”

So, track the etymology and you get the “correct” pronunciation by original language. 

Scone is an old dutch word by origin “schoon” and thus etymologically should by “scohn”

Bridgehouse

thecolourbox said:

wolsnah said:

Tone, which we all know about, with an S on the front, doesn't make "ston". It's a very similar word to (s)cone in phonetics so scone very much for me, none of that scon oddity

The "tone + S = stone" comparison only really works logically if the word has always been spelt that way. If you look at the etymology of the word, it rather depends on whether you think it comes from the German or Dutch word Schöne/Schoon (fine flour bread) or the Scottish Gaelic word Sgonn (mouthful, lump). On the basis that the word scone seems to have come from Scotland, one could perhaps surmise the Gaelic one might be more likely, but then it's possible that came from the German/Dutch before that so we aren't really any further forward.

I would say clear etymological evidence of Old Dutch (which influenced Gaelic anyway) and both words would by route pronounce scohn anyway. 

For Scoan as a pronunciation it would require a classical route. 

Dominic

And there you have it !

Bridgehouse

Dominic said:

And there you have it !

I’m also a fucking hoot at parties. 

equalsql

Of course my answer to all this academic etymological stuff is... bollocks!!
My mum.. bless her sweet departed soul.. was adamant.. scone is pronounced as it is spelt. And she was a Devonshire girl ( and a landgirl during WW2)... so that's that!  

HAL9000

I asked the maid in dulcet tone

To order me a buttered scone.
The silly girl has been and gone
And ordered me a buttered scone.

Bridgehouse

equalsql said:

Of course my answer to all this academic etymological stuff is... bollocks!!
My mum.. bless her sweet departed soul.. was adamant.. scone is pronounced as it is spelt. And she was a Devonshire girl ( and a landgirl during WW2)... so that's that!  

I blame the drate-pokes who confused everyone centuries ago so there’s now two ways of pronouncing it.

Sporky

Teetonetal said:

Topics like this are how I explain to people what it's like to be British.

I hope you make it clear that the arguments over pronunciation don't get in the way of the consumption!

BRISTOL86

FX_Munkee said:

munckee said:

I'm a southerner and its scon, only person I've ever heard call it scone (as in stone) is my aunt from yorkshire.

However its irrelevant as its a sh1t dry cake, and jam and cream are for ladies : )

I'm from Yorkshire and the only person I've heard pronounce it "scoan" is Hyacinth Bucket.

Is she your aunt?

It’s funny because anyone who pronounces it ‘scoan’ thinks that ‘scon’ is the posh way. I say ‘scoan’ and have never thought for a second that it could be considered the posh way. 

munckee

BRISTOL86 said:

FX_Munkee said:

munckee said:

I'm a southerner and its scon, only person I've ever heard call it scone (as in stone) is my aunt from yorkshire.

However its irrelevant as its a sh1t dry cake, and jam and cream are for ladies : )

I'm from Yorkshire and the only person I've heard pronounce it "scoan" is Hyacinth Bucket.

Is she your aunt?

It’s funny because anyone who pronounces it ‘scoan’ thinks that ‘scon’ is the posh way. I say ‘scoan’ and have never thought for a second that it could be considered the posh way. 

My aunt is yorkshire's answer to hyacinth bucket and says scone because she thinks it sounds posher!

thecolourbox

Well I went to tesco at lunch and the ones they were selling there were definitely pronounced scones

supes

It’s scone as in gone. You can give as many explanations as you like but pronouncing it as s”cone” just makes you sound like a pretentious dick. I’m from the north-east, ya kna we talk proper up here. I think that’s game, set and match. 

ICBM

Thread resurrection... I saw this today .

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnEkfJaXoAAzfyw?format=jpg&name=900x900

sinbaadi

I must be the only person that pronounces the Sc like "science".
"Mother, would you like another 'sonn'?"
"Go to 'shool'!"

stickyfiddle

supes said:

It’s scone as in gone. You can give as many explanations as you like but pronouncing it as s”cone” just makes you sound like a pretentious dick. I’m from the north-east, ya kna we talk proper up here. I think that’s game, set and match. 

I'm from the east and it's definitely scon. The pretentious northerner who lives downstairs calls them "scones"  because he's trying to sound posh, which means that's definitely wrong

Emp_Fab

You’re all wrong... it’s pronounced “s h i t e”.

Like buttering a bit of old plasterboard and trying to eat it.

Welshcakes are where it’s at.

cj73

And the old school heavy metallers call them sköühnz

octatonic

Emp_Fab said:

You’re all wrong... it’s pronounced “s h i t e”.

Like buttering a bit of old plasterboard and trying to eat it.

Welshcakes are where it’s at.