8 replies to this topic

[William Hunt]

Ensign : what is the correct pronounciation of this small outfit and can anyone tell some interesting stories about them (there must be a lot) ?

[Vitesse2]

En-sin, with the emphasis on the first syllable, which is pronounced as the English letter N not the French "en". There is quite a lot about Ensign in the Mo Nunn thread:

http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=31093

[ensign14]

Fastest lap for Marc Surer (and 4th place) at Brazil 1981. Ran 3 sets of tyres that year - Michelin, Goodyear and Avon. Based in Willenhall. Merged with Theodore in 1982-3 off-season.

[No27]

Originally posted by Vitesse2
En-sin, with the emphasis on the first syllable, which is pronounced as the English letter N not the French "en". There is quite a lot about Ensign in the Mo Nunn thread:

http://www.atlasf1.c...&threadid=31093

I always thougt it was "anne-sign" anne like Queen Anne, sign like sign or design, without 'de' of course.

[Prostfan]

Can anyone tell me where the name comes from? I'm no english native speaker, but a look in a dictionary told me it either can mean a flag or coat of arms or it is a military rank.

[ensign14]

I think it is a pun on 'N (for Nunn) - sign'. All the cars were type number e.g. N180.

As you say, it is also a naval rank, and there are 3 flags called naval ensigns in the UK - the White Ensign for Royal Navy, the Blue Ensign for the merchant navy, and the Red Ensign for private ships - Vexillogical Ensign14

[Allen Brown]

I think it's N-sign, not N-sen nor Anne-sign.

Allen

[Gary C]

thank you Alan, at last someone has the correct pronounciation!

[David McKinney]

En-sign and en-sin are both correct pronunciations of the flag, according to the Oxford Dictionary. The way to pronouce the cars would depend on Mo Nunn's preference, and I suspect it would have been en-sign.