Pafos or Paphos but not Pathos

Veronica · #1 (**permalink**) 21st February 2009, 07:52 AM

Why do so many British people insists on calling Paphos, Pathos?
I know the spelling has recently been changed to make it easier for brits and other foreigners and it is now officially spelt Pafos on maps etc but it has never had a T in it.
Please please please stop calling it Pathos.

adamgard · #2 (**permalink**) 21st February 2009, 05:06 PM

I don't know though Veronica - some might say pathos is about right - but I couldn't possibly comment,

Veronica · #3 (**permalink**) 21st February 2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamgard

I don't know though Veronica - some might say pathos is about right - but I couldn't possibly comment,

Not from where I am sitting though.

I love it and dont feel any sadness at being here. Maybe for some people though you could be right.

IOWgirl · #4 (**permalink**) 22nd February 2009, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veronica

Not from where I am sitting though.

I love it and dont feel any sadness at being here. Maybe for some people though you couldbe right.

Sighhhhhh! I want a condo in Akamas Park Villas. If I win the $48 million 649 jackpot tonight I will be calling you. lol

Veronica · #5 (**permalink**) 22nd February 2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IOWgirl

Sighhhhhh! I want a condo in Akamas Park Villas. If I win the $48 million 649 jackpot tonight I will be calling you. lol

I guess living in Canada that will feel warm to you but I would freeze my butt off up there in the winter. The winds roar up from the Akamas peninsula.
Fabulous views though

gloucester_geezer · #6 (**permalink**) 23rd February 2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veronica

Why do so many British people insists on calling Paphos, Pathos?
I know the spelling has recently been changed to make it easier for brits and other foreigners and it is now officially spelt Pafos on maps etc but it has never had a T in it.
Please please please stop calling it Pathos.

Veronica,
I couldn't agree more.... I know a few people that live in Paphos/Peyia area and they call it 'Pathos'! Funny, so many people put 'F' instead of 'TH' in English... Fink, fumb, free (3) etc. but give them a word that should be 'F' and they change it the other way! Eye car knot sea wye hit wood bee shed like that!

Paul

adamgard · #7 (**permalink**) 23rd February 2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloucester_geezer

Veronica,
I couldn't agree more.... I know a few people that live in Paphos/Peyia area and they call it 'Pathos'! Funny, so many people put 'F' instead of 'TH' in English... Fink, fumb, free (3) etc. but give them a word that should be 'F' and they change it the other way! Eye car knot sea wye hit wood bee shed like that!

Paul

H Paul

The correct spelling is now Pafos, even though it was originally spelled Paphos in Greeklish. Perhaps the people are trying to imitate the Greek pronunciation which sounds more like 'Bavos' = listen to the CYBC newsreaders at 6.40 on Rik 2. Adam

gloucester_geezer · #8 (**permalink**) 23rd February 2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamgard

H Paul

The correct spelling is now Pafos, even though it was originally spelled Paphos in Greeklish. Perhaps the people are trying to imitate the Greek pronunciation which sounds more like 'Bavos' = listen to the CYBC newsreaders at 6.40 on Rik 2. Adam

Hi Adam,

You are quite right, that is the right sound as per spoken Greek. I have heard it said as Pap hos as well which is even worse of course. The Greek that I can speak has pretty much been based on how the locals say the words.... no point in trying to work out the right way to say it... just listen to the locals! Can't listen to CYBC newsreaders..... I am back in glorious Gloucester in the UK!!!!

Paul

BabsM · #9 (**permalink**) 24th February 2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamgard

H Paul

The correct spelling is now Pafos, even though it was originally spelled Paphos in Greeklish. Perhaps the people are trying to imitate the Greek pronunciation which sounds more like 'Bavos' = listen to the CYBC newsreaders at 6.40 on Rik 2. Adam

Are you sure there IS a correct spelling? I have a feeling that spelling in transliterated words has not been standardised. On official road signs along the motorway the name of our village is written three different ways!

Also, the pronunciation of a P more like a B is a linguistic feature. The P is palatalised. Something similar happens with K, T and G sounds. If you want to learn pronunciation You'd be better listening to the Cypriot news on Rik 1, but make sure its not the editions broadcast by Greece!

adamgard · #10 (**permalink**) 25th February 2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabsM

Are you sure there IS a correct spelling? I have a feeling that spelling in transliterated words has not been standardised. On official road signs along the motorway the name of our village is written three different ways!

Also, the pronunciation of a P more like a B is a linguistic feature. The P is palatalised. Something similar happens with K, T and G sounds. If you want to learn pronunciation You'd be better listening to the Cypriot news on Rik 1, but make sure its not the editions broadcast by Greece!

If memory serves me correctly some years ago a lady was appointed by the Cyprus Government to standardaise the spellings. As a result Nicosia became Lefoksia, Larnaca Larnaka, Limassol Lemossos, Paphos Pafos and Famagusta Ammochostos. Check out the Cyta Telephone Directories or the Post Office Post Code directory. Not everyone made the switch over however so the old spellings are still used. Adam