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I'm aware that the English county of Worcestershire is pronounced in Britain as ['wu:stəʃə], more or less. However, this is a non-rhotic pronunciation, and it feels very unnatural for me to use this pronunciation when speaking in my native dialect. There are three /r/s in the spelling, and it seems like at least some of those should be reflected in the pronunciation. What is an appropriate way for a rhotic English speaker to pronounce the name?

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Ehm, might it not be better if you asked about a possible way for a rhotic speaker to pronounce it? And are you specifically looking for local pronunciations, i.e. British? P.S. "My native dialect" sounds so funny, almost an inside-out perspective. – Cerberus Dec 24 '10 at 1:55

4 Answers

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Merriam-Webster (usually a good guide for rhotic US accents) gives \ˈwu̇s-tə(r)-ˌshir, -shər also -ˌshī(-ə)r\.  The OED doesn’t give a rhotic alternative at all, just /ˈwʊstəʃə(r)/.  Checking a few random other sources, I can’t find any suggesting that the first r should be pronounced.

I’d guess (fairly confidently) that a rhotic BrE speaker would say /ˈwʊstərʃər/ or /-ʃɪər/.  Using /-ʃaɪər/ (Merriam-Webster’s \-ˌshī(-ə)r\) for the suffix -shire is strongly marked as an Americanism, to my ear, though I don’t know a source to back this up.

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How dare you quote Merriam-Webster for a British word! :O – Noldorin Dec 24 '10 at 16:34
@Noldorin: I wouldn’t have (or at least, not as the first suggestion) if I knew a good source which included any British rhotic pronunciations.  :-P  Anyone know of one, preferably but not necessarily online? – PLL Dec 24 '10 at 22:23
I tease you. :) There are plenty of regional English accents (particularly West Country) that use a rhotic accent - perhaps a dictionary of regional British dialects? Not that I know any heh! – Noldorin Dec 24 '10 at 23:18
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Ironically, a person from Worcestershire would most likely say something like /ˈwʊstərʃər/ - certainly someone from neighbouring Gloucestershire would. – Marcin Apr 17 '11 at 16:38
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It's spelt Worcestershire

And pronounced Niffles:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/londoners-questions-on-pronounciation.cfm

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No it isn't, and the link doesn't have anyone saying that. – Marcin Apr 17 '11 at 16:43
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The pronunciations reported by the NOAD are /ˈwʊstərʃɪ(ə)r/, /ˈwʊstərʃaɪ(ə)r/. Having a friend who lives on Long Islang, I am used to the first pronunciation.

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I don't remember my phonetic symbols brilliantly so I'll try this (mostly) without - as a native Briton I can tell you it's (roughly)

Woostəshə

(the "oo" being that of "look" not "food" or "zoo")

or, less commonly, just "Woostə"

That is, in the local accent. I can't speak for the whole of Britain.

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You've missed the point. I know what the local pronunciation is, but I'm interested in trying to adapt that pronunciation for a rhotic (American) accent. – JSBձոգչ Dec 24 '10 at 15:38

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