shackbleep 0 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Got you down to a fucking tee Kevin..... From Mevafishy, through Barlick to Amazingstoke, nicknames for Britain's towns and cities are legion. Now a new project seeks to create a database of what we really call where we live. What we name things says as much about us as it does about them. Take cars, for instance; I've come across heard pet names which include Eric Robinson (a famous bandleader), Pompidou (a former President of France) and Oscar (presumably Wilde). I also know someone who insists on referring to the TV remote as a "klangenstuhl". And so it goes for places. "No man is an island... apart from Barry," goes the old quip. And the South Wales resort of Barry Island is just one of countless places in Britain to have its own nickname. As a major filming location for BBC television's award-winning comedy, Gavin and Stacey, it was christened BarryWood by the actor Russell Tovey. Some slang names are just simple abbreviations, so in Lancashire Skelmersdale became Skem, Barnoldswick is known as Barlick and Ricky is the chummy moniker given by locals to Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire. And, in the historic tradition of spoken English, ironic puns abound. The comedian and broadcaster Phill Jupitus says that his home town of Stanford Le Hope in Essex is called Stanford No Hope by locals. Elsewhere, the picturesque Cornish port of Mevagissey is becoming known as Mevafishy, for obvious reasons, and the South Yorkshire town of Wath-Upon-Dearne is often cheekily referred to as Where Upon Earth. Now, as part of English Language Day on Wednesday 13 October, the English Project and Ordnance Survey are launching Location Lingo, an interactive project which aims to uncover the nicknames, pet names and hate-names which people use in their daily lives for the places which are near and dear to them. "The name that people conjure up or create for a place forms an emotional connection," explains Winchester University's Professor Bill Lucas, a patron of the English Project. "So Basingstoke becomes Amazingstoke, Swindon is known as Swindump and Padstow, home town of chef Rick Stein, is nicknamed Padstein." Other nicknames, though, require a little explanation. In Scotland, the 80-odd roundabouts which grace the new town of East Kilbride have led it to acquire the name Polo Mint City. Devonport, the Royal Navy's home in Plymouth, is known in the Senior Service as Guz, short for "Guzzle", a comment on West Countryfolk's alleged devotion to cream teas. And in Northern Ireland, local radio presenter Gerry Anderson came up with the jocular name Stroke City to describe the politically contentious Londonderry/Derry. The practice of bestowing pet names extends far beyond towns and cities, though. Millions of people in the UK have heard of the complex feat of engineering known as Spaghetti Junction. But just how many are aware of its proper title - Gravelly Hill Interchange, where junction 6 of the M6 meets the A38(M) Aston Expressway in Birmingham? Beyond this, there are places like the Banana Bridge, a curvy crossing over the River Itchen in Hampshire, and one of London¹s newest landmarks, the Gherkin, otherwise known as the Swiss Re building. And the intimacy of a place name can also extend to what occurs there "Many of these names may also refer to little natural features of landscape where people go for a hug and a kiss," says Prof Lucas. As well as creating what promises to be a fascinating resource detailing the linguistic richness - and sheer quirkiness - of pet place names, there is a practical side to the project. "With the huge variety of place nicknames that exist we could never hope to capture them all ourselves," says Glen Hart, Ordnance Survey's head of research. "But the information from Location Lingo could prove vital. Organisations like the emergency services rely on our information when responding to 999 calls, so by having the most complete set of nicknames we could help the emergency services quickly locate the right place, and maybe even save lives." Anyone in Great Britain can submit their location lingo - and, if possible, the story behind it to the English Project website where they can either plot their entry on an interactive map or fill in a simple form. As Bill Lucas puts it: "It's not about apostrophes or no apostrophes. Its about what a place name means to you." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11515027 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I've never in my 17 years heard someone ever say "stroke city". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gejon 2 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I'm never 17 years old. FYP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Har dee har har Gejon, that was mighty funny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Then I'm not quite sure where you've been for these past few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Then I'm not quite sure where you've been for these past few years. Erm... Derry ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think you'll find it's called Londonderry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 41347 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Stroking himself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think you'll find it's called Londonderry. Peadophile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15135 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think you'll find it's called Londonderry. Peadophile. Stop devaluing the term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 41347 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think you'll find it's called Londonderry. Peadophile. You're suggesting Wor Ewerk is sexually attracted to Peas? Get a dictionary Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgentAxeman 166 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Shields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shackbleep 0 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think you'll find it's called Londonderry. Peadophile. Stop devaluing the term. I don't think he could have been any further out of context if he'd tried! Interesting observation that 'young Kevin' plays the 'big I am' and 'man of the world'image who's seen and done anything yet the moment you start having a go at him you're suddenly referred to as a paedophile. You seriously need to stop acting like a twat you cock-munching knob end... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Good book by Gerry Anderson btw that references the monicker Kevin's never heard of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I think you'll find it's called Londonderry. Peadophile. Stop devaluing the term. I don't think he could have been any further out of context if he'd tried! Interesting observation that 'young Kevin' plays the 'big I am' and 'man of the world'image who's seen and done anything yet the moment you start having a go at him you're suddenly referred to as a paedophile. You seriously need to stop acting like a twat you cock-munching knob end... Ewerk is a member of 4chan... look it up kids and maybe you'll see why i called him that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 (edited) How does one become a member of 4chan then? Edit: Go fuck yourself Kevin. Edited October 11, 2010 by ewerk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 How does one become a member of 4chan then? i duno, im not on the website you creep. bunch of dorks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I'll ask you again, what have you got going for you in your life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I'll ask you again, what have you got going for you in your life? my whole future you dork. You? Wasting away by your lonely self on 4chan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I'll ask you again, what have you got going for you in your life? my whole future you dork. You? Wasting away by your lonely self on 4chan... I just hope that you stick around here to let us know how that goes for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I'll ask you again, what have you got going for you in your life? my whole future you dork. You? Wasting away by your lonely self on 4chan... I just hope that you stick around here to let us know how that goes for you. I will Ewerk.. i will. What have you got going for you in your life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Everything is going pretty well so far, thanks for asking Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Everything is going pretty well so far, thanks for asking Kevin. Care to elaborate.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 29517 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Not really, I'm at a point where I don't feel I have to justify myself to a 17 year old on the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 1 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Not really, I'm at a point where I don't feel I have to justify myself to a 17 year old on the internet. You've got fuck all going for you so you come on the internet acting a keyboard warrior against a 17 year old to big yourself up but in real life you're nothing but a sad pathetic man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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