New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Being a Brit...
in reply to a message by jeannie.
I can honestly say I have no idea. I've been known as "Bazza" before [Alisha G > Ali G > Sacha Baron Cohen > Baron > Bazza]. It tends to come with names with Rs; Harry "Hazza", Barry "Baz", Ryan "Raz". Sorry, I'm babbling and I honestly don't have an answer other than the R thing.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
Me neither. 'Rozzers' is an old slang term for the police which apparently dates from 1893, so maybe it's kind of based on that, but I'm totally clutching at straws here.
1
I have no idea either but just to add I've also known Sharon = Shaz, Shazza / Shazzer (in Bridget Jones), Darren = Daz, Marian = Maz (this was a woman I worked with), Karen = Kaz, Caroline = Caz. I think it's just because names which have an R in them aren't easy to abbreviate. Though why Brits do it and other nationalities don't, who knows?
1
Ah, yes. We have a friend nicknamed Daz, and we know a Maria who's sometimes nicknamed Mazzle.
I s'pose we should embrace our individuality as a Nation.
I s'pose we should embrace our individuality as a Nation.
1
Aussies do it to. But I suppose that's probably a reflection of our British ancestry!
1
Probably has to do with nonrhoticism
1
I think that is the reason too, thanks for introducing rhotic and non-rhotic accents to me. Harhar, say "a rhotic accent" out loud" ;-)
1
That's where you don't pronounce Rs, right? I don't know if that has anything to do with it, 'cause the Rs in Harry, Karen and friends are always pronounced.
1
I have to say though, sometimes I hear Brits saying Harry like the r's are a w like 'Hawwy'
1
Well, those are all R's that begin syllables. R's that close them aren't pronounced, and if you shorten Harry or Karen they become Har or Kar, which is an awkward sound in non-rhotic dialects, so maybe the Z gets added on because the mouth wants to close around a sound
1
Ah, yeah, I see what you mean. That's interesting.
1