There is some confusion over the correct pronunciation of Abbotsford in the Lower Mainland.
A meme went viral yesterday about whether the city is pronounced Abbots-FORD, or Abbits-FERD.
The meme sparked a wave of Twitter comments from journalists and citizens debating the phonetically correct sound.
See some of tweets below:
I probably laughed at this harder than I should have. It’s a divisive topic in every newsroom in the Lower Mainland. What are your thoughts? 🤔#Abbotsford pic.twitter.com/a7EDjbZtb8
— Regan Hasegawa (@rhasegawaCTV) November 12, 2019
I grew up here and call it Abbotsford, not Abbotsferd.
— Alana Green (@Alana_Green) November 13, 2019
It’s not Stan – FORD .. that’s what I think when I hear people say Abbots – FORD .. @City_Abbotsford #Abbotsford #Debate 😄 pic.twitter.com/JvM3DaxAtI
— Ryan Lidemark (@RyanLmark) November 13, 2019
Growing up in Abbotsford, we pronounced it “ferd”. But some elders frowned upon this.
Now we just call it “Abby”. Nobody’s offended by this (except maybe Boomers). #sorryboomers https://t.co/hLrah74Cwi— Kyle Conway 康有为 (@KC_Lumberguy) November 13, 2019
My last name is Wilford and I live in Abbotsford! "FERD" Forever!
— Chris Wilford (@VE7CEW) November 13, 2019
I like Abbots-fjord. Just cuz.
— Ian MacDonald (@Ian_A_MacDonald) November 12, 2019
Might be old vs modern. My bosses for 13 years at the Abbotsford radio station demanded "ford," not the Valley Girl "ferd." So did longtime mayor George Ferguson. Yet in my Abby high school years it was probably like "Abbots-frd." We asked fmr mayor Braun and he leaned that way.
— Richard Dettman (@rwdettman) November 12, 2019
What do you think?
