SCOTT Macintosh’s English lady, who called “Menzies’” “Mingies” and deduced that “Lenzie” was “Lingie”,was actually correct (Letters, March 6). In Cumbernauld, “Lenziemill” is still pronounced “Lingiemill” by the older, native, farming community,although that is now lost among the post-1960 New Town incomers.
The “z” is the old Scots "y". Dan Sweeney’s book Shadows of the City, on the lost mansions of Glasgow, informs us that Provost James MacKenzie of Glasgow, around 1820, was the first person in Glasgow to use the current pronunciation of his surname, previously universally pronounced as “McKinney” (“Son of Coinneach” – Kenneth).
Scotland’s John Menzies stores were always pronounced “Mingies” until they extended into England and the “Menzies” pronounciation was thereafter continuously broadcast back into Scotland.
Another lost pronunciation is “Ibrox”, which the locals called “Eebrox” well into the 19th century – much nearer to its original Welsh: “Y Brocs”, the “place of the badgers”.
Tom Johnston,
5 Burn View, Cumbernauld.
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