Dha? Daab? Darb?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by ariel

Just now saw Mark Bowditch's comment on another forum re. pronounciation of the D-word.
About 2 years ago, I came up with "Dahb", but was outvoted, ignored and overall sneered at (I am stll seething ).
The reason for this transliteration:
1. Several of my Thai friends could not fathom what did I mean by Dha, Dah or Darb (with open A still sullied with traces of R). Only when I said Dahb (open A without R) did they smile and said that, yes, sure, this is a name for a Thai sword.
2, Why Dahb? I was inspired by the exaggerated Bostonian accent: "Ah pahked mah cah" If they can use it in Hahvahd, we can use it too and sound mahvelously Brahmin ( and a bit more Tha-ish, too)
Mahk, what do you think?

I'm forever screwing things up and mispronouncing names and words I've only seen in print. (One of the many problems inherent in studying these things in books and over the internet. ). In fact, you may recall a couple years ago when, to my chagrine, I presented an Ayutthaya Thai sword at Timonium and referred to it as a "dha" until Philip Tom gently corrected me in front of god and everyone.

As Rick tends to remind me, it's good to pick the phone up every so often and actually talk with other collectors.


Oh, and everyone shouted down your "dahb" idea because you talk funny. (But not as funny as Rick. ).