Pronunciations

[Anita Bensoussane]

'Trotter' and 'canter' are also related words though, e.g. 'This horse is a trotter but this horse likes to canter.'

[Courtenay]

I know — that's why I said the play on words works whether Fatty is a Trot-ville or a Trotter-ville! It's just that some have pointed out that "trot" and "canter" are both in the same form — either two nouns, or two verbs in the same tense — but "trotter" is solely a noun and the equivalent, if there was one, would be "canterer". Which is an argument for suggesting that Eunice was playing on Fatty's name being pronounced Trot-ville. But I tend to side with your thought that she's also echoing the rhythm of his real name (if it does have three syllables) by turning Trot-te-ville into Can-ter-ville. I guess the only person who could have told us for sure is Enid herself, and it looks like she never did say anything about it for certain.

(Incidentally, I can't help thinking that "Canterville" sounds like Canterbury, the ancient capital of Kent, not too far from where I live. Which is, in fact, said to be the origin of the term "canter" for a horse's second-fastest gait. Apparently pilgrims riding to Canterbury Cathedral liked to keep their horses at that gait — not as fast as a full gallop, but easier for the horse to sustain over a long distance — and so it became known as the Canterbury gallop...)

[Anita Bensoussane]

It's just that some have pointed out that "trot" and "canter" are both in the same form — either two nouns, or two verbs in the same tense — but "trotter" is solely a noun and the equivalent, if there was one, would be "canterer".

That's why I pointed out (though I didn't explain things very clearly!) that 'bell' doesn't equate to 'toll' either. Just like 'canter' and 'trotter', the two words are related in meaning but they're not the same part of speech.

[Moonraker]

I liken it to actor Hugh Bonneville's name - do you pronounce that Bon-vil. John? Of course, in the interests of fairness, Bourneville chocolate is not pronounced Bourne-uh-ville!

[pete9012S]

He was always Trott - ville to me when reading the books.
After reading everyone's helpful suggestions including the last one, now I'm none the wiser!

[dsr]

I pronounced it Trot-er-ville. Mind you, I also had four syllables in Alicia, and three in Mamselle. Yes, I pronounced the last e in Mamselle, so I'm certainly not going to balk at a middle e in Trotteville. I'm surprised I didn't go for Trot-er-villy.

[Boatbuilder]

I seem to recall posting about these two pronunciations a couple of years ago in another topic. Two places in Norfolk which are pronounced unlike they are spelt. The first one relates somewhat to the pronunciation of Trotteville and that is Costessey - a place on the outskirts of Norwich - and is pronounced 'Cossee'. When I first moved to this part of the country thirty-plus years ago I always pronounced it as spelt - 'Cost-ess-ee'.

The second one - Happisburgh - on the north Norfolk coast - is pronounced 'Hays-borough', rather than 'Hap-is-borough'.

[pete9012S]

Reflecting again on Nigel's post I realised I also pronounce it Trott e ville (small e )sometimes in my mind too!

[Courtenay]

I seem to recall posting about these two pronunciations a couple of years ago in another topic. Two places in Norfolk which are pronounced unlike they are spelt. The first one relates somewhat to the pronunciation of Trotteville and that is Costessey - a place on the outskirts of Norwich - and is pronounced 'Cossee'. When I first moved to this part of the country thirty-plus years ago I always pronounced it as spelt - 'Cost-ess-ee'.

The second one - Happisburgh - on the north Norfolk coast - is pronounced 'Hays-borough', rather than 'Hap-is-borough'.

Not to mention Norwich! I've never forgotten how some years ago, an academic friend of mine in the US did an online talk on the medieval female mystic Julian of Norwich — pronouncing Norwich as "Nor-wich" throughout. A mutual friend here in England wrote to her afterwards to advise her that it in fact rhymes with "porridge".

[Fiona1986]

I pronounced it Trot-er-ville. Mind you, I also had four syllables in Alicia.

I think that's right, though. Or at least, it's not wrong. It can be Ah-LEE-sha or Ah-LISS-ee-a. If it helps I used to think it was AL-iss-a, like Alice-a...

[Boatbuilder]

Here’s something I found earlier, though not sure it’s of any real use.

How to pronounce Trotteville

[Daisy]

Well I hope you found it helpful, John. To me it's as clear as mud. "Trot-tevil-le" indeed.
To me it has always been "Trottville", I never tried to pronounce the 'e' after the 't'.

[Barnard]

I have always pronounced Fatty’s surname with two syllables and I always will.

[Fiona1986]

I'm actually more confused now that I've seen that link than I was before...

[Boatbuilder]

Hence my comment about it being of any use. I just thought I would add a little extra spice to the discussion.

I’m wondered after reading it is it possibly a foreign name?