The things you learn: Cornish pasties

[pne]

I'd always been pronouncing them "pace-teas" in my head, like the pasties you stick over a nipple (or, more to the point, with the same vowel I have in "pastries"), but apparently, they're pronounced with a "short a" (as in "cat") in the first syllable. (I'd have written "pass-teas", but that would imply a "broad A" in my 'lect, as in "palm".)

Also relatedly, I'd pronounced pâté "PAT-ay", but apparently it's supposed to be "pa-TAY" or "pah-TAY". Ooh, all French and dignified.

Comments

[sinisteragent.livejournal.com]

I used to sell pasties in Canterbury. Most Americans make the same mistake, but I can see why. They seem to be terrified of buying any english food as well, even if it has an obvious name, just in case it's one of those weird things we have a ridiculous esoteric name for. Bless 'em.

They can be tasty wee things, pasties, but they can be pretty bland and stodgy as well. Mutton ones are surprisingly good.