Starrett question

I've always heard and used "stare-it".

Yep, I've been involved in machining since the mid 50's and have always heard and pronounced it "Stare-it or (et)"

Harold

You really are an old goat ya know.

chucklingly yours

michael

snip----

Heavy sigh!! What can I say?

Harold

Weird. In the 35+ years since getting my first Starrett mic, the only way I've heard it pronounced here in New England is "sta'-ret", sta as in stack, accent on the first syllable.

Ned Simmons

Maybe it's an accent thing (pun not intended). That's the way it gets prounounced over here in the UK.

Mark Rand RTFM

The people in the town where the stuff is made say it that way too Harold. Looks like you got lucky. Did you know that those people are called Athols? :>)

Most likely a regional thing, yes? I've noticed that folks from the right coast call FlOOrida (Florida) FlAHrida.

Considering we speak English, there are times when it's hard to prove it, especially when we jump continents.

Harold

Gulp!! Man, that's dangerously close to something bad. Nope, didn't know it!

Harold

Not just continents. Over here it's also Counties, and regions. The regional accents here are something to marvel over. Hope they never vanish. GeoffH Norfolk, UK

I've always pronounced it "Star-rett". But have no reason to believe my pronunciation is more or less correct than any of the possibilities. I just e-mailed the L. S. Starrett Company and have asked them to clear up this mind boggling question....

If and when they answer, I'll post the answer.

:-)

Dave Young

Thanks to all for your responses. My wife suggested that I call the factory and find out. I don't know why I didn't think of that. When I called (978-249-3551), I got a recorded greeting (weekend). Pronunciation: "stare-it". So much for proper nouns following any kind of pronunciation rules.

Thanks again

Darn!!!!!!!!!! Why didn't I think of that!!!!!!!!!

:-|

Dave

Probably answered by someone in prison or India

And that's also how the operator on the phone at Starrett says it when she picks up the phone.

Abrasha

Which leads me to think that *ears* have accents. I called and heard exactly what you heard, which is what I was expecting. John (from Nashville) called and heard "stare- it".

Thesis material perhaps? I'm sure it's been done.

Ned Simmons

The Starrett family pronounce the name as in "stare-it", accent on first syllable, with the "a" maybe just a bit shorter than in the "stare".

Athol is home to a mix of Yankee accents - Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, maybe even some Maine thrown in. Never sure what you're going to hear there.

John Martin

I mentioned earlier that I wrote to Starrett to get the correct pronunciation. I got a reply from Sharon Nault (of Starrett) who said: "Thank you for your recent email.

We pronounce it Stare-it.".

Dave Young