Buoys
We watched a video about the collision of the Maersk Shekou and the Sail Training Ship Leeuwin in Fremantle on 30th August. It was most informative. Maersk Shekou damaged one of the berths and the roof of the Maritime Museum. It also damaged itself, with a hole in the side. It dismasted the tall ship Leeuwin and two crew members were taken to hospital with injuries, which were not life-threatening, fortunately.
It’s something of a mystery at present. There were two pilots on board and four attendant tugs, so I’m sure many people will have reached their own conclusions.
Shekou has been in and out of Fremantle on other occasions without incident. There is a link to the YouTube video about the accident. It’s just over sixteen minutes long.
The thing that intrigued me almost as much as the analysis was the pronunciation of buoys. I had always assumed that everyone pronounced it the same way – ‘BOYS,’ but the presenter said, ‘BOO-EES’ and it amused me. How many other ways is it pronounced, I wonder?
I had always thought it was BOYS too until I heard Boo-ees. I hadn't heard about that collision, perhaps it was in the past when I didn't take much notice of news and didn't buy a daily newspaper either.
ReplyDeleteOh, now I see it was just this year. How did I miss that?
ReplyDeleteMaybe you don't read the Fremantle Shipping News 😁
DeleteI've always said boo-ees as I understand that to be the American pronunciation though I've also heard it pronounced boys.
ReplyDeleteI thought it must be an American pronunciation, but thought it might vary from state to state.
DeleteI've always said 'boys'. Maybe it is a regional pronunciation? xx
ReplyDeleteAs Stephanie. above. pointed out, it's the American pronunciation.
DeleteWhenever I hear boo - ees I can't help it, it sounds weird 😆
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I'd never heard it before. I learn something new every day.
DeleteI soon learned about 'boo-ees' when I was working in the USA. A friend (American) and I jointly purchased a small 'sail boat'. It wasn't the only bit of new vocabulary I discovered. For example, in Oklahoma at least, the kicking strap is a 'boom vang'.
ReplyDeleteCheers! Gail.
So it's not just cars that have different vocabulary.
DeleteTell Gail that kickers are rope and vangs are solid struts (usually with kickers attached). Kickers pull a boom down (against a topping lift). Vangs will manage the boom angle up or down without any assistance from the topping lift (or topper).
DeleteBoys here too. I wondered how it is pronounced by the French as it appears to be a word derived from that language. Apparently it is bouée... boo-eh.
ReplyDeleteNow, that makes sense and I can see how it 'travelled.'
DeleteI think we go out of our way on this side of the Pond or Up Over to spell and pronounce things differently. BOO-ee 😺
ReplyDelete'Two nations divided by a common language' as someone once said. 😊
DeleteAdmit it - however it is pronounced the spelling is weird.
ReplyDeleteIt is odd - I bet it was a spelling mistake, originally.
DeleteWith my Swedish accent, I pronounced them booyes. I've sailed all my younger life and I never heard anyone say boys. But then, of course, I don't think I ever talked about them with anyone. I love the English language -- some day I should write a post about that love.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is a mongrel language, thieving from every other country. 😉
DeleteI've always said 'boys' too..
ReplyDeleteA clear distinction seems to be developing . . .
DeleteBoo-ees here! ("Here" being Nova Scotia, Canada, surrounded almost entirely by ocean)
ReplyDeletePronunciation's a funny thing - no right or wrong way for many words. Throw in regional differences and sometimes we can't understand each other.
DeleteWell, I always pronounce it BOYS !
ReplyDeleteHappy September wishes.
Schools are back this week so watch out for Halloween and Christmas Cards etc to be in the shops soon!!!
All the best Jan
Ha ha - that's cheery thought . 😊
DeleteI wonder where my comment went. My comment has been deleted, again. Everybody hates me.
ReplyDeleteI've just found it in my email!
DeleteOh, our Freemantle. I heard that American pronunciation many years ago. Always boys to me but does the American pronunciation come from old English, taken to the Americas.
Could well be. I shall investigate - and probably come up with nothing!
Delete