MetaChat - Scone on.

*runs into thread, steals scone, runs off*

posted by lonefrontranger 13 March | 16:29

*had a cherry tart for breakfast, declines further pastries*

posted by Specklet 13 March | 16:32

*eats green beans* :\

posted by viachicago 13 March | 16:35

Like the moon, and the stars, and the sun.

posted by matildaben 13 March | 16:38

So, scone as in "cone" or scone as in "gone"?

posted by TheDonF 13 March | 16:53

Cone.

But then, I say "errrrbs" instead of "hhhuhbs".

posted by Specklet 13 March | 17:03

Skawn? Seriously?

posted by cortex 13 March | 17:12

In this thread we all record ourselves saying "I'm sorry, but I don't like herbs on my scone."

posted by chrismear 13 March | 17:18

What's scone on? Not much. Now what?

posted by ericb 13 March | 17:30

Yes, Specklet, but that's a common Americanism, as I'm sure, deep down, you're aware :) You all talk English (well, an approximation of!) until you get to the word "herb" when you suddenly drop the letter "h" and try to go all French. What next, constant strikes, go slows, OTT garlic eating and sheep burning?!

And it's "as in gone".

/runs away quite fast

posted by TheDonF 13 March | 17:35

Errrrrbs!

*totally giggled aloud at ericb's comment*

posted by Specklet 13 March | 17:36

Sweet hell, that's exactly it! It's not "eeeeeerrrrrbs" it's "herbs" with an "h"! You're not French. You don't say "eeeeerbie Hancock" do you? No! Now, let me calm down a bit while I install 10.4.9 and some other stuff. Sheesh.

posted by TheDonF 13 March | 17:50

I say '...eeerbs,' but notice that all of the TV chefs on BBC America, etc. (Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey, etc.) all say "...heeerbs." They must be right. After all, they speak the Queen's English and we colonists bow to their superiority. Oh, wait...we won, didn't we?

posted by ericb 13 March | 17:57

You don't say "eeeeerbie Hancock" do you?

If I had a Cockney accent, I would...

posted by Specklet 13 March | 18:09

Look, pronouncing the word "herb" without an "h" doesn't somehow imbue you with teh mad catering skillz that makes me somehow want to get down and fellate you. It just makes me think "WTF? Why has that English-speaking person suddenly tried to sound like he's the bastard offspring of the Roux brothers?"

LOLing at Specklet :)

posted by TheDonF 13 March | 18:16

Wait... catering will get you Lewinskied? 'Cause I've worked a few banquets and never gotten so much as a firm handshake.

posted by bmarkey 13 March | 18:36

I hate the way USians say 'herbs'.

As for 'scone' you say it like this:

When you put it on the plate it's a scone (as in cone)
When you've eaten it, it's scone (say it out loud, pronouncing it the other way, and you'll get the pun)

posted by essexjan 13 March | 18:39

Oh yeah, and "erbs" and "skawns", neatly splitting the differece.

posted by bmarkey 13 March | 18:43

That's like "why is milk the fastest thing on the planet? Because it's pasteurised before you see it". LOL, etc...

posted by TheDonF 13 March | 18:43

o< o< o< quack quack quack

posted by cmonkey 13 March | 18:57

Eddie: You say 'erbs', and we say 'herbs', because there's a fucking 'H' in it!

posted by puke & cry 13 March | 19:03

Wait... catering will get you Lewinskied?
Just depends on how you pronounce "herbs"! FYI, the French for cigar is apparently "cigare"...

posted by TheDonF 13 March | 19:06

Just to confuse matters...
The first non-British Mechazen to correctly pronounce Scone, as in the Scottish town (or palace, or Stone), wins a prize*.

No googling or wikipedia-ing! Your time starts ... now!

*Prize may or may not exist.

posted by matthewr 13 March | 19:16

I know the answer! As an Australian I am tempted to answer but feel it would not be fair, as I am very nearly British.

posted by essexjan 13 March | 19:23

I just realised, I would pronounce the baked goods, town, and Stone all differently. At least one of those must be wong then.

posted by GeckoDundee 13 March | 19:49

Is "Scone, Scotland" pronounced "Skoon"? I am imagining Groundskeeper Willie saying it.

posted by cmonkey 13 March | 19:55

essexjan is Australian?

posted by dg 13 March | 20:20

Yes indeed, dg. My parents were Ten Pound Poms, they went to Australia from Manchester in 1948, my sister and I were born in Katoomba, NSW. My folks couldn't settle in Australia, so moved back to England in the 60s with us.

Even though my upbringing and cultural reference points are almost totally English, I still feel a strong pull towards the land of my birth. In sporting events I always support Australia over any other country, even England.

posted by essexjan 13 March | 20:29

I learned that "skawn" was correct when I went to England (had tea with scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam every day I was there, yummm!). Canucks pronounce herb with the aitch so I started doing it as well.

Some of us 'Murricans can be taught. :^P

posted by deborah 13 March | 20:43

The Goodies had a whole episode about this troublesome linguistic issue. Bunfight At The OK Tearooms.

I can't find it online, but YouTube has How to Make Babies by Doing Dirty Things, which almost makes up for it.

posted by GeckoDundee 13 March | 21:12

herb [ûrb] = a garden plant, eg, marijuana

herb [hûrb] = a lamer, putz, doofus, etc (slang)

posted by Wedge 13 March | 21:18

You all talk English (well, an approximation of!) until you get to the word "herb" when you suddenly drop the letter "h" and try to go all French. What next, constant strikes, go slows, OTT garlic eating and sheep burning?!

Six weeks vacation, free medical coverage, amazing food, respect for learning and intellectuals, a thriving literary scene . . .

ERB! ERB! ERB! ERB! ERB! ERB! ERB! ERB! ERB!

posted by jason's_planet 13 March | 23:00

*shrug*

posted by carmina 13 March | 23:11

I wouldn't get too twisted over erb/herb - after all, "honor", "honest", "hour", and "heir" are all also English language words borrowed from the French that we all pronounce with a silent "H".

At least, I hope so... because hearing all the Brits nattering on and on about "the hair to the throne" would be 'orrifying. :)

posted by taz 14 March | 00:16

Ya smoke the herb and cook with the erb.

posted by arse_hat 14 March | 00:24

ericb wins! The prize is a virtual scone.

(My niece has a t-shirt that says "Scone on". The point is that someone says "What's scone on?")

posted by stilicho 14 March | 01:12

Yay cmonkey! Your imaginary prize is in the imaginary post.

posted by matthewr 14 March | 04:49

Scones: makes 12 small or 8 large ’uns.

You will need: 225g (8oz) self-raising flour; a pinch of salt; 25g (1oz) lard; 25g (1oz) castor (superfine) sugar; and 1 medium-to-large egg, beaten with enough milk to make 150ml (1/4pint).

First, mix the flour and salt, and rub in the lard. Second, stir in the sugar, and mix to a soft dough with the egg and milk. Third, knead lightly, divide into two or three and roll each piece into a circle about 5mm (1/4inch) in thickness. Cut each of these into four. Lastly, bake over a moderate heat on a greased griddle (or just fry in a saucepan with just a smidgeon of butter) for about 2 minutes on each side.

posted by misteraitch 14 March | 09:06

13 March 2007