JtR in the news today

[Limehouse]

Here is a link to a BBC online article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14207581

I don't think I'll be digging any deeper into this theory, based on this article.

[Heinrich]

Another one that falls into the Tom, Dick, or Harry category.

[Chris]

I don't think I'll be digging any deeper into this theory, based on this article.

For those who are still hungry for more, "Xanthe Mallett explores the incredible treasure trove of surviving documents from the original police investigation into Jack the Ripper" in National Treasures Live at 7.30 on BBC1 tonight. It's only one segment of a half-hour programme, though. Another is Larry Lamb visiting Wilton's Music Hall:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b014b7f1

[Steven Russell]

I do wish Mr. Marriott would learn to pronounce "Feigenbaum" correctly. I know he's done lots of research and continues to campaign to get the Special Branch stuff released but it seems a bit sloppy he can't get his suspect's name right. My 'O' level German tells me it should be "Fei (rhymes with eye) gen (soft g and schwa vowel) baum (vowel pronounced as in gown)".

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Heinrich]

I do wish Mr. Marriott would learn to pronounce "Feigenbaum" correctly. I know he's done lots of research and continues to campaign to get the Special Branch stuff released but it seems a bit sloppy he can't get his suspect's name right. My 'O' level German tells me it should be "Fei (rhymes with eye) gen (soft g and schwa vowel) baum (vowel pronounced as in gown)".

Best wishes,
Steve.

Why not a hard g?

[Steven Russell]

Does that get used in German surnames? I guess someone called Heinrich has a much better knowledge than me of how to pronounce German surnames. Can you help?

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Heinrich]

Does that get used in German surnames? I guess someone called Heinrich has a much better knowledge than me of how to pronounce German surnames. Can you help?

Best wishes,
Steve.

I believe a hard "g" is OK.

[Steven Russell]

When I say a soft g, I mean as in "guess" and by a hard g, I mean as in "digest".

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Limehouse]

When I say a soft g, I mean as in "guess" and by a hard g, I mean as in "digest".

Best wishes,
Steve.

Hi Steve

It's the other way around (at least, it is in English). A soft 'g' sounds like a 'j' as in Germany, ginger, Nigeria etc. As a tip, the soft 'g' is neary always followed by the letter 'e' or 'i'.

A hard 'g' sound comes from the back of the throat as in grill, ghetto going etc.

[Stephen Thomas]

When I say a soft g, I mean as in "guess" and by a hard g, I mean as in "digest".

Don't you mean the other way around?

Where's that nice Christian Jaud when we need him?

[Sister Hyde]

hard g, soft g, whatever. Steven is right in the prononciation though "FEYE-GUEN-BAOM".

[Steven Russell]

Thanks, sis. And thanks to Limehouse, Stephen, and Heinrich for correcting me on hard and soft gs. I know what I meant but got the terminology wrong.

Best wishes,
Steve.

[chrisjd]

He's just back from holiday, Stephen :-)

Feigenbaum:

Fei as in F"eye"

gen is difficult, as all english words seem to pronounce the 'g' as in "gents".
the "g" is pronounced as in "Goulston" St.
the "en" as in "gender"

baum:
"b" as in better
"au" as in "foul"
"m" as in "mother"

"Feigenbaum", simple ;-)

Christian

[chrisjd]

Also I don't know what a "hard g" in German sould be. To me, a hard G is a "K" as in Kipling.
"G" is soft as such, as in "Goulston" or "underground"
c

[Steven Russell]

Cheers, Christian. That's what I thought but I have been shown the error of my ways. Apparently underground is a hard g and gentlemen is soft. Whatever, we can agree on the pronunciation of Feigenbaum (what does it mean anyway? Some sort of tree I suppose) which is a long way from Trevor's "Feegenborn".

Best wishes,
Steve.