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Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
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Sun, 7 Jan 2007 11:23:41 -0500
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Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
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Re: Jordan's Journey
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Bruce Terrell <[log in to unmask]>
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I don't know about the "Bush" part.  I suspect that is an old English term that had some
meaning in the
past.  There is a neighborhood in West London known as Shepard's Bush.
Bruce Terrell

----- Original Message -----
From: Connie Lapallo <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, January 7, 2007 7:33 am
Subject: Re: Jordan's Journey

> Hen-RECK-ah (for Henrico) brings us full circle to the Beggar's Bush
> question.  That soft sound, changing an "i" to a short "e",
> demonstrateshow "Biker's Bush" may have been pronounced and/or
> spelled "Bicker's
> Bush". Then, softening the "c" sound to a "g" sound as they often did
> changes it to "Bigger's Bush" or "Beggar's Bush".
>
> Knowing that "Biker" sounded like "Beggar" may be the reason they
> chose "bush"--playing off the phrase Neil pointed out in literature
> from1588. But no doubt no one considered Biker a beggar and it was
> probablymore playful than anything else. "Bush" is also an easy way
> to make
> Biker's land alliterative, like Pace's Pains and Jordan's Journey. I
> envision them having fun choosing these names.
>
> Other sound changes in this old speech: since "r's" were often
> changed to
> an "aw" sound, "Barker" becomes "Bawka". Given all this, the name
> "Biker"could be "Barker" and sounds like "Beggar".  In fact, there
> was also a
> Barker near Jordan's land, and perhaps he was the same man as Biker.
>
> I believe these soft, melodious sounds of Eastern Virginia are mostly
> English West Country in origin, where many of the Virginia
> colonists were
> from. It's haunting speech and lovely.
>
> By the way, thanks for all the JERR-dan stories! I love that this old
> pronunciation is still around--France to England to Virginia to
> variousstates...and still going!
>
> Connie Lapallo
> Author of DARK ENOUGH TO SEE THE STARS IN A JAMESTOWN SKY
> www.ConnieLapallo.com
>
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