Comments on: The Apostrophe, Unwanted

By: Philippe VIELLIARD

Philippe VIELLIARD — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:37:36 +0000

Guv’nor is simply the Governor of all bicycles, that’s all.

By: Geoff Baker

Geoff Baker — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:46:40 +0000

Good evening one and all,
Well James, we will have to agree to disagree. I prefer Guv’nor to Guvnor, my Concise Oxford Dictionary tell me; ” guv, guv’nor (vulg. or colloq.) = GOVERNOR. [corrupt.].” I can see your point about applying formal rules to a vulgar or colloquial spelling, but the COD gets my vote.
Anyway, one thing we all agree about is the Guv(‘)nor is the boss when it comes to bicycles!
Safe riding, Geoff ‘Duchy Wheeler’.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:37:14 +0000

A little left field perhaps, but I’d prefer no branding on the top tube at all. Leave the Pashley front badge, and let the design speak for itself.

By: jmkd

jmkd — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:09:45 +0000

Currently neck and neck in the apostrophe clash…any other opinions?

By: seventythree

seventythree — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:39:41 +0000

Pash Racer.

and

It’ll be the Guv’nor for me.

By: Jim O.

Jim O. — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:10:53 +0000

RE: The Apostrophe unwanted...Apostrophe or not- Imagine if you will, the board room of the Pashley Corporation with all the Big Shots of Pashley gathered round to try to come up with the name that best suits this magnificent retro bicycle that stands in front of them- and the very best they can come up with is : GUV'NOR? ( As in "Hello Guv'nor"). Just for" shits and giggles" how about readers of this blog coming up with a better name for this classic. I'm quite sure they would do a better job! My entries would be 1. The Rath (named after William "Rath" Pashley) or 2. "Path Racer" which is what this bicycle is designed after. Anything better????

By: jmkd

jmkd — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:25:11 +0000

Ian, never too late! As you I must use speech marks below for clarity alone, I hope the finer points can be understood, I could never do this in French!

So, let me elaborate on my aversion to the apostrophe in “Guv’nor”. As you deduce, it is indeed a shortening of the word “Governor”. In fact, at least four versions are acceptable in the Oxford English Dictionary:

guvner
guv’ner
guvnor
guv’nor

What’s more, this very act of shortening is associated specifically with vulgar or colloquial pronunciations of “Governor”. Therefore if the act is colloquial, the spelling should be simple. To introduce a ‘correct’ apostrophe, feels to me at odds with a colloquial spelling.

That’s it really, I haven’t really touched the fact it also makes it harder to read, and harder to say!
Nor that apostrophes in proper nouns are simply abominable. And finally, just look at this:

Guv’nor Owners’ Club

No thanks! :-)

By: Ian COUTTAUSSE

Ian COUTTAUSSE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:28:53 +0000

A little in late for this question.
I don’t know the origine of the choice of that name.
Is it a shortness off “governor “remembering the India past of Great Britain?
It could be appreciate as a “coquetterie” a few snob reserved to that bike or in the other side as a provocation off a bad guy ?

By: The Pashley Guvnor: First Year Report

The Pashley Guvnor: First Year Report — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:44:50 +0000

[…] know of only two flaws with this bicycle: the apostrophe and the lengthy puncture turnaround. The former can be simply ignored, the latter mitigated with a […]

By: The Pashley Guvnor «

The Pashley Guvnor « — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:44:14 +0000

[…] know of only two flaws with this bicycle: the apostrophe and the lengthy puncture turnaround. The former can be simply ignored, the latter mitigated with a […]