Twombly

22:15 Oct 15, 2010 

Understand, that is. I certainly don't pronounce "worry" as ['wɔrı], but might sometimes pronounce it as ['wʌrı], depending where it comes in the sentence and what comes before. So, bad example. The "o" should be "ɒ"as in "pot, "botch" or "sorry".

18:59 Oct 15, 2010 

That's how "worry" looks like in the Collins Dictionary:

worry ['wʌrı]

The word "worry" itself is a bad reference, Twombly or not. You pronounce it ['wɔrı] obviously and some don't.

16:35 Oct 12, 2010 

to one of the Vanderbilts. Via email, not via phone — that's a bit too much for me.
McKown is pronounced like in 'own' and Rybakin's suggestion for 'Twombly' is incorrect for the family in question and for Cy Twombly too.
It must be pronounced as it is spelled, only 'b' can be omitted.

Of course there are other Twomblys and some families may well pronounce the first syllable like in 'tomb'.

16:17 Oct 12, 2010 

but maybe youtube can help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw62COTxJHo

13:23 Oct 12, 2010 

The first reference is as authoritative as they come. But different families use different pronunciations. Phoning the Vanderbilts sounds like the best bet here!

12:47 Oct 12, 2010 

Looking at your references, the one that supports pronouncing the "w" is much more authoritative, especially as the person writing it is herself a Twombly and she cites the Scottish origin of the name. One always has to make a judgement about how well-founded a reference is, not just assume they are all equally valid.

11:57 Oct 12, 2010 

I have to phone up some one from Vanderbilt family for this. Would my call be answered though?
Thanks a lot for the links.

11:44 Oct 12, 2010 

But this one doesn't! Oh dear http://www.pronouncenames.com/pronounce/twombly

11:43 Oct 12, 2010 

This seems to confirm BD's suggestion: http://scifialiens.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/how-to-pronounce...

11:16 Oct 12, 2010 

I'd like to, such methods do work from time to time. Still, my translation schedule doesn't allow me to go to a medium just now and I can't exactly tell an Ouija board from a cutting one. It's always live and learn, sure.

11:07 Oct 12, 2010 

You could try a ouija board or a visit to a medium? I am quite sure about Cy Twombly. However, people do sometimes have foibles about personal spellings and pronunciations.

10:58 Oct 12, 2010 

Thanks a lot, Ms Finch. About phoning her up: it's rather costly to do so from Ukraine and she died in 1952.
I always try to connect with living persons of course, so I e-mailed another NYC dweller about the last name yesterday and haven't got any answer yet. It happens rather often, unfortunately.