The use of the 'sow' spelling suggests that the word was commonly
pronounced in the West Riding as in female pig, rather than 'suf'. The
adoption of the spelling 'sough' might therefore have been a
normalisation against spelling conventions in English which enable
'ough' to be pronounced 'ow'. It would also differentiate the written
word for a drainage tunnel from that for a lady porker.
I think I'll fudge this by giving a short exposition on the many and
interesting derivations and spellings of the word. Imprecision will be
my friend.....
Thanks again to all.
David C.
On 26 Jan 2009, at 10:00, Martin Roe wrote:
> Sough and sow are both found in historic documents in West Yorkshire
> and the terms are interchangeable. Sough however becomes the norm,
> before appearing to be superseded by adit. On the boundary between
> Middleton and Hunslet, just south of Leeds was a Sow Lane Head. Here
> there was indeed a sough, draining Blucher Pit.
>
> Martin RoeMeerstone Archaeological Consultancy
> http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/meerstone.htm Lead Mining in
> the Yorkshire Dales, http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk > Date:
> Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:15:05 +0000> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject:
> Pronunciation of 'sough'> To: [log in to unmask]> > Thanks
> to all respondents - the customary helpful (and very swift) > response
> from the forum. The consensus is that, in England at least, > 'suf' is
> correct, although in the States 'sow' is preferred. I should > have
> mentioned that the area/mineral in question is West Yorkshire > coal.
> Howard Sprenger's suggestion that the 'u' in 'suf' should be as >
> northern as possible may present me (a native of Hertfordshire) with >
> difficulties. Thanks again to everyone.> > Having just read Mr Bernard
> Moore's interesting post (Bridgewater Canal > and Mines), I would also
> be interested in learning of anything that has > been published on the
> subject.> > Best wishes.> > David C.
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