Mont Blanc, MontBlanc, or Montblanc

[errantmarginalia]

And while we're at it, the "c" at the end of "blanc" is silent :-).

 

David

[yachtsilverswan]

To Ray (closet grammer nazi)

 

There is a hypen between Rolls and Royce. Always got pulled for that one as well

 

And the errant closet grammar Nazi bows humbly and apologetically (though not quite submissively).

 

I am trainable.

 

 

 

[Kalessin]

"Montblanc" is the spelling that the company uses.

 

We're a casual bunch around here, and so "Montblancs", MB, MB's, MBs, all are used around here without any ill effect.

 

Montblanc marketing staff might use more formal terms, so "Fine Montblanc writing instruments" may be as required and appropriate as the phrase "precious resin", but it's a mouthful and too long to type regularly.

Edited December 4, 2008 by Kalessin

[Frits B]

Yep Montblanc it is. Now then somewhere in my fading head is a memory of compiling a judges list for the Rolls-Royce club and being told under no circumstances should the term Rolls-Royces ever be used. The correct term is, so I was instructed, Rolls-Royce motor cars.

I'm amazed they even let pass 'motor cars'. 'Motors' would certainly have been more appropriate.

[Deirdre]

IIRC, Montblanc-Simplo GmbH registered both "Mont Blanc" & "Montblanc" as their trademark and servicemark, so I'd think it wouldn't be heretical usage either way

They refer to themselves as Montblanc though.

[Pen Nut]

QUOTE (Frits B @ Dec 5 2008, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep Montblanc it is. Now then somewhere in my fading head is a memory of compiling a judges list for the Rolls-Royce club and being told under no circumstances should the term Rolls-Royces ever be used. The correct term is, so I was instructed, Rolls-Royce motor cars.

I'm amazed they even let pass 'motor cars'. 'Motors' would certainly have been more appropriate.

 

 

 

No. Rolls-Royce motors was put forward but not allowed. Wonder what the current owners BMW would make of it all !

 

[njh1974]

And while we're at it, the "c" at the end of "blanc" is silent :-).

 

David

 

Quite right. Being curious and having just done the research, I've discovered that 'c' is usually pronounced at the end of a word except where preceded by a nasal vowel, as in 'blan-c'.

 

Unless we pronounce it in German? And who knows if the 'a' is a short or long vowel in that case?

[niksch]

And while we're at it, the "c" at the end of "blanc" is silent :-).

Quite right. Being curious and having just done the research, I've discovered that 'c' is usually pronounced at the end of a word except where preceded by a nasal vowel, as in 'blan-c'.Unless we pronounce it in German? And who knows if the 'a' is a short or long vowel in that case?

 

Well, I guess that's the conundrum. A French mountain and German company (GMBh). I suspect the correct pronunciation is however one says it in German with a Hamburg accent.

 

Eric

[ShadowWriter]

And while we're at it, the "c" at the end of "blanc" is silent :-).

Quite right. Being curious and having just done the research, I've discovered that 'c' is usually pronounced at the end of a word except where preceded by a nasal vowel, as in 'blan-c'.Unless we pronounce it in German? And who knows if the 'a' is a short or long vowel in that case?

 

Well, I guess that's the conundrum. A French mountain and German company (GMBh). I suspect the correct pronunciation is however one says it in German with a Hamburg accent.

 

Eric

 

Ok... should I officially give up?? I researched the 1 word vs 2 word issue and am now writing MontBlanc and I'm sticking with it; HOWEVER, just today I researched the correct *audio* pronunciation of Blanc and the online dictionary indicated "blawn". I then listened to a podcast on my iPod and heard an avid pen collector with a pen podcast and a pen enthusiast's web site and he clearly said "blanc" -- hard "c". Guess I should assume that he was wrong?

Help!!

 

I'm from the US, the podcaster was from the US. I just joined FPN a couple of days ago and have yet to purchase my first fountain pen. Don't wish to sound like an idiot when I go shopping in the next week or so... how should an average American pronounce MontBlanc to a fountain pen seller? I imagine that the "brand" of MontBlanc will certainly come up in conversation or options.

 

Of course, I can just avoid the problem for now and purchase another type of pen! :hmm1:

 

[yachtsilverswan]

I've purchased Montblanc pens from Boutiques for over twenty years, and have until this thread never heard that the "c" was silent. I have uniformly heard US sales staff and collectors pronounce Montblanc with a hard "c" sound at the end.

 

Don't be shy - after this thread you already know more about the pronunciation than 99.9% of consumers and 90% of Boutique employees.

 

I still say Montblanc with a hard "c" sound at the end.

 

Its funny how you can spend such a long time in a hobby and still miss a core tidbit like how to correctly pronounce it. Keeps me humble.

 

Of course this pales beside the Cardinal Sin of using only one syllable to pronounce "Porsche."

[Titivillus]

I've purchased Montblanc pens from Boutiques for over twenty years, and have until this thread never heard that the "c" was silent. I have uniformly heard US sales staff and collectors pronounce Montblanc with a hard "c" sound at the end.

 

Don't be shy - after this thread you already know more about the pronunciation than 99.9% of consumers and 90% of Boutique employees.

 

I still say Montblanc with a hard "c" sound at the end.

 

Its funny how you can spend such a long time in a hobby and still miss a core tidbit like how to correctly pronounce it. Keeps me humble.

 

Of course this pales beside the Cardinal Sin of using only one syllable to pronounce "Porsche."

 

Herbin is another that I get a blank stare if I pronounce it correctly.

 

K

 

[niksch]

Unless you are from anywhere but Frankreich.

 

And while we're at it, the "c" at the end of "blanc" is silent :-).

 

David

[yachtsilverswan]

I suppose this is ranging pretty far afield (like all the best threads), but I'm going to press on.

 

While there may be tolerance for variation in pronouncing in English words that originated recently in another tongue, family names should be pronounced as they would be pronounced in the mother tongue.

 

So "Porsche" must be pronounced in English just as the Porsche family pronounces their name in German (even when discussing the company or car, rather than the family themselves); Herbin must be pronounced in English just as the Herbin family would pronounce their name in French (silent H, nasal -in).

 

Since Montblanc takes its name from geography and not from a proper family name, more linguistic variation is acceptable from language to language.

 

Using a German or French accent for pronouncing the words in English is, however, considered a foppish affectation in the US, and costs you style points.

[FredRydr]

In the USA, just phone the service center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and you'll hear the "official" pronunciation of "Montblanc" in their menu.

 

Fred

[niksch]

costs you style points.

 

 

In Colorado, if you aren't wearing fleece, denim, hiking boots or the latest REI styles, you get docked for style points. I still wear khaki, and I supposed I'm 'dockes' every day. But my plaid flannel shirts are cool. Forget the French or German pronunciations. Most can't handle it...we barely speak English.

 

Eric

Edited December 12, 2008 by niksch

[ShadowWriter]

I've purchased Montblanc pens from Boutiques for over twenty years, and have until this thread never heard that the "c" was silent. I have uniformly heard US sales staff and collectors pronounce Montblanc with a hard "c" sound at the end.

 

Don't be shy - after this thread you already know more about the pronunciation than 99.9% of consumers and 90% of Boutique employees.

 

I still say Montblanc with a hard "c" sound at the end.

 

Its funny how you can spend such a long time in a hobby and still miss a core tidbit like how to correctly pronounce it. Keeps me humble.

 

Of course this pales beside the Cardinal Sin of using only one syllable to pronounce "Porsche."

 

Your response made me laugh (Porsche) and I actually feel better about shopping for a pen now.

 

Good grief, I didn't think that I'd spend more time investigating spelling and pronouncing a product than choosing a product. Picking a specific pen ought to be a piece of cake now.

 

By the way, any suggestions from the Montblanc enthusiasts here would be appreciated. Everyone has their own reasons for loving what they love; however, I've visited the Montblanc web site and know that there will be some interesting choices. My store is in a mall and if the Christmas shoppers chase me away from the mall, I'll not be making my purchase until January.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Randal6393]

And while we're at it, the "c" at the end of "blanc" is silent :-).

Quite right. Being curious and having just done the research, I've discovered that 'c' is usually pronounced at the end of a word except where preceded by a nasal vowel, as in 'blan-c'.Unless we pronounce it in German? And who knows if the 'a' is a short or long vowel in that case?

 

Well, I guess that's the conundrum. A French mountain and German company (GMBh). I suspect the correct pronunciation is however one says it in German with a Hamburg accent.

 

Eric

 

Ok... should I officially give up?? I researched the 1 word vs 2 word issue and am now writing MontBlanc and I'm sticking with it; HOWEVER, just today I researched the correct *audio* pronunciation of Blanc and the online dictionary indicated "blawn". I then listened to a podcast on my iPod and heard an avid pen collector with a pen podcast and a pen enthusiast's web site and he clearly said "blanc" -- hard "c". Guess I should assume that he was wrong?

Help!!

 

I'm from the US, the podcaster was from the US. I just joined FPN a couple of days ago and have yet to purchase my first fountain pen. Don't wish to sound like an idiot when I go shopping in the next week or so... how should an average American pronounce MontBlanc to a fountain pen seller? I imagine that the "brand" of MontBlanc will certainly come up in conversation or options.

 

Of course, I can just avoid the problem for now and purchase another type of pen! :hmm1:

 

Pronounce it "Lamy" and you won't go wrong.