June 16, 2008
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pronounciation vs. pronunciation
So how do you pronounce “often”? Do you say the “t” or not?
This was a discussion we had with my visiting father-on-law. He is always entertaining company because he writes and reads poetry, discusses issues and language, and provides a worthy word game opponent.
So out came the newer Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and my old Oxford English Dictionary. The latter offers no pronunciation (not “pronOWnciation”) of the “t.” But the newer Webster’s suggests the “t” can be pronounced as a second, less preferred alternative.
My father-in-law was taught never to pronounce the “t” and he obviously received a superior education.
I don’t remember being taught that, and sometimes would feel like I was not speaking correctly to spurn the “t.” Here I was doing the right thing. Who knew?
The following link lists other commonly mispronunciations, such as “prerogative,” “spit and image,”"diphtheria,” and “electoral”:
http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/mispron.html
Enjoy your language!
|||||| lynard
