Re: [Paddlewise] Clapotis and a paddle to the sea

From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 21:43:30 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
> "CLAPOTAGE ou CLAPOTIS. s. m. T. de Marine:
> Agitation légère des vagues, qui se croisent et s'entrechoquent dans tous
les sens."
>
> Which could be translated as:
>
> Light agitation of waves, which are crossing themselves and are banging
themselves
> together in all directions.
>
> The pronunciation in French would be roughly "clap owe tee", with no
syllable getting any
> particular stress (well, maybe the first).  In Quebec it might be
pronounced more like
> "clap owe tsee" by some.   I've been pronouncing it as if it were French
since I first read
> it.  I'm not even certain what the proper English pronounciation is!

Generally I have heard it pronounced as "cla po tis" with the accent on the
po (the "o" is a long o in sound).  I have also heard it pronounced as "oh
shit!" with the accent on the second part, which is drawn out as "shiiiitt!"
:-)

Funny how French works its way into other maritime terms such as "Mayday"
and other less alert calls on marine radio.

ralph diaz--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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Received on Fri Jun 01 2001 - 18:42:16 PDT

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