This came to me suddenly during the night:

I keep hearing, from time to time, people pronouncing the Spanish gunmaker AyA as A-Y-A, or, less often but still heard, "aya". The firm is named after the two founders' last names, Aguirre and Aranzabal, thus the AyA. "Y" in Spanish means "and", so the AyA should be spoken as "A and A". Not judging, just saying.

I will admit to being, not OCD, but CDO, lol.
JR

You are correct, it is in fact "A and A" but the American convention has been "A-Y-A" for so long I think people might wonder who you were talking about if you commented on an "A and A."

No matter...still beautiful guns.

Ps. Just as common a mistake, I see, is when people confuse one man's initials vs the last initial of two proprietors.

W.H. Baker was one man.
W & C Scott references two men in partnership.

Nudge

We're a bit fancier up North and say ahh-eee-ahh.


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Readin' Rightin' & Route 23.
https://youtu.be/1KO-F-UYR1s

Ah-GARY and Ah-ran-THA-bal.

I once got this:

"What kind of gun is that?"
"Ugartechea"
"gesundheit"

Well, here in this country, I'm thinking A-why-A is just fine. Nobody but a Spaniard or a wannabe here would say ahhhh-eee-ahhhh, and nobody but a straight up goof would say A-and-A. I've never heard anyone at the range or in the field get corrected by the espanol police for pronouncing the maker by the old standby. Precedence wins.

"Cast ye not pearls before swine..."
JR

Aguirre and Aranzabal works well for me! Engraved one of those years ago and was a nice piece on which to work. Brittany and pups on one side and ptarmigan and chicks on the other side. Owner managed to get the gun "in the white" which was a great help!

Would love to see some of your work, Sam, if you could put some photos up here. Thanks!
JR

Sam, you brought up another word that a lot of people cannot pronounce correctly, ptarmigan. A lot will use the p.

I believe the correct way is Ah e Ah

David, we had lots of ptarmigan in AK in my time and sure they still do.

John, I don't have a hosting account. If you log on to www.engraverscafe.com and check the Interviews section I have an interview with posted photos.

Also, check the "The Best My Brownie Will Do" thread that I started for an interesting photo or two.

Also John, if you go to www.fega.com select "the engravers" and click on master engravers you will find my name at the bottom of the list. Click on my name to see a few photos, namely an H&H and Win M21 done for the makers.

Wow! Marvelous work, Sam. Thanks for the link.
JR

Good shotguns though shortened name when spoken sounds like someone was just got stung by a honey bee, hornet or a bull ant.

yO momma drop you on yer head ?

When I refer to my favorite shot gun which is a 16 GA #2 Aguirre and Aranzabal, I simply write AyA.

Calling an AyA anything other than an A and A in English is a little like calling a Porsche a "PORSH" in English or a Jaguar a "Jagwire".

Yes, many people do it & every one will know what your talking about but doing so speaks volumes about your education level, background & life's experiences.

I'll admit to slipping up on the AyA ever once in a while but try not to. I never took Spanish so I have an excuse.

Thank you.
JR

Maybe you're right.

AYA works for me!

You know, Garcia y Vega is typically just called 'Garcia Vega'.

Perhaps 'AA' would be acceptable? Just skip the 'and'.

You could shoot your AA with AAA wood after the AA meeting, eh?

I sure like my EYE-thaka 37.


_______________________
Call me anything you like. Just don't call me late for dinner.

Good thing we got this all figured out. I know it was keeping me up at night.

I'm sure it was.


Best,
Ted

____________________________________________________
Call me the lone guy here who doesn't need to get laid.

Note to self: Never, under any circumstances, ride in the back seat of Ted's See-troh- en.


______________________
California
https://youtu.be/r9xvnIZmSSs

Or ask about a certain German gun at a well known dealer.

You will educated on the merits of the CRAIG-off.

Lol. Most of the SC crowd I shoot with say that. Wonder how they pronounce "blitzkrieg"?
JR

Never owned a Citroen. Or, a K-gun, but, Wonko does have a way of waxing poetic about the crisp way they explode from time to time, and I have seen an interweb photo of a blown up one or two as well.

Pronunciation always seemed so secondary to that, to me.

But, whatever.

Best,
Ted

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"The only thing for sure in a crowd is the temperature goes up, and the communal IQ goes down"
David Lee Roth