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Sink in meaning 'I got it'.
a great deal

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

Twombly

English answer:

Pronounce the "wo" as in "worried" or "wok"

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2010-10-15 16:54:11 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Oct 12, 2010 10:04
13 yrs ago
English term

Twombly

Non-PRO English Other Names (personal, company) a last name pronunciation
Hi all.


This last name happens to be an obstacle. Since Russian don't leave names as they are, spelled with Latin characters, I need to know how exactly it is pronounced.
I've managed to find two possible ways: like it is spelled (a Twombly speaking on Youtube) and with 'twom' like in 'tomb' (A Dictionary of English surnames by Rybakin).

The person mentioned in the source text is a granddaughter of the first Vanderbilt — Florence Adele — which married Hamilton McKown* Twombly. There's something about her at http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/3614

If you have heard something about Mrs. McKown Twombly you are welcome to comment.
Thanks in advance.


* this seems to be pronounced as in 'own'.
Responses
4 +2 Pronounce the "wo" as in "worried" or "wok"

Discussion

B D Finch Oct 15, 2010:
I believe I do Understand, that is. I certainly don't pronounce "worry" as ['wɔrı], but might sometimes pronounce it as ['wʌrı], depending where it comes in the sentence and what comes before. So, bad example. The "o" should be "ɒ"as in "pot, "botch" or "sorry".
Serglunin (asker) Oct 15, 2010:
No, you didn't understand That's how "worry" looks like in the Collins Dictionary:

worry ['wʌrı]

The word "worry" itself is a bad reference, Twombly or not. You pronounce it ['wɔrı] obviously and some don't.
Serglunin (asker) Oct 12, 2010:
Thanks to everyone, I actually got through to one of the Vanderbilts. Via email, not via phone — that's a bit too much for me.
McKown is pronounced like in 'own' and Rybakin's suggestion for 'Twombly' is incorrect for the family in question and for Cy Twombly too.
It must be pronounced as it is spelled, only 'b' can be omitted.

Of course there are other Twomblys and some families may well pronounce the first syllable like in 'tomb'.
Sabine Akabayov, PhD Oct 12, 2010:
I have no speakers at the moment, but maybe youtube can help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw62COTxJHo
Alison Sabedoria (X) Oct 12, 2010:
I agree with BD The first reference is as authoritative as they come. But different families use different pronunciations. Phoning the Vanderbilts sounds like the best bet here!
B D Finch Oct 12, 2010:
@ Nesrin Looking at your references, the one that supports pronouncing the "w" is much more authoritative, especially as the person writing it is herself a Twombly and she cites the Scottish origin of the name. One always has to make a judgement about how well-founded a reference is, not just assume they are all equally valid.
Serglunin (asker) Oct 12, 2010:
Oh, how confusing I have to phone up some one from Vanderbilt family for this. Would my call be answered though?
Thanks a lot for the links.
Nesrin Oct 12, 2010:
But this one doesn't! Oh dear http://www.pronouncenames.com/pronounce/twombly
Nesrin Oct 12, 2010:
This seems to confirm BD's suggestion: http://scifialiens.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/how-to-pronounce...
Serglunin (asker) Oct 12, 2010:
Ouija board or a medium I'd like to, such methods do work from time to time. Still, my translation schedule doesn't allow me to go to a medium just now and I can't exactly tell an Ouija board from a cutting one. It's always live and learn, sure.
B D Finch Oct 12, 2010:
Phoning You could try a ouija board or a visit to a medium? I am quite sure about Cy Twombly. However, people do sometimes have foibles about personal spellings and pronunciations.
Serglunin (asker) Oct 12, 2010:
Re: Cy Twombly Thanks a lot, Ms Finch. About phoning her up: it's rather costly to do so from Ukraine and she died in 1952.
I always try to connect with living persons of course, so I e-mailed another NYC dweller about the last name yesterday and haven't got any answer yet. It happens rather often, unfortunately.

Responses

+2
43 mins
Selected

Pronounce the "wo" as in "worried" or "wok"

That is how I have always heard Cy Twombly's name pronounced.

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Note added at 44 mins (2010-10-12 10:48:28 GMT)
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As this is specific person, can't you phone her up and ask her?

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Note added at 2 hrs (2010-10-12 12:43:51 GMT)
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You can hear Nick Serota talk about Twombly on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk74f7S24jM
The whole vid is worth watching if you like Twombly's work, but he says the name at 1.12 and 2.26 mins.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days8 hrs (2010-10-15 18:33:01 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

I am quite certain about the vowel sound. Definitely "o" as in "worried", not as in "love". Listen to Nick Serota, or anybody else, talking about Cy Twombly.
Peer comment(s):
agree Alison Sabedoria (X) : And Nesrin's first reference is a good one.
2 hrs
Thans Wordeffect
agree Richard McDorman
3 hrs
Thanks Richard
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Not sure about 'worried'. The first vowel in English-Russian dictionaries is usually transcribed like in 'love'."
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