GalacticCactus Forum
Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: saxon75 on February 17, 2009, 10:10:19 AM
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This morning I was listening to the news on the radio and when the announcer said the date, he pronounced the first R in "February." That got me to wondering whether that's just the way he says it, or whether media people are coached to pronounce it that way in order to try to have a less regional-sounding accent.
I always leave out the first R, so it comes out more like "Feb-yoo-ary." What about you?
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Technically, it's not that some people leave out the r, but that they change it to a y sound. It's considered wrong by some traditionalists, even though it's quite widespread. I don't think it's a regional thing so much as it is a learned/unlearned distinction. Some people might naturally say it with the r, but I would guess that as a radio announcer he's been trained to say it that way.
I unashamedly pronounce it feb-yoo-a-ry.
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Same here.
And wenz-day.
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I can't help it, I do pronounce the 'r'. I started to pronounce it that way in elementary school to remember how to spell it, and now it's been way too long to change.
Not that I worry about it.
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And wenz-day.
That too. But does anyone actually pronounce that one differently? The OED gives only the pronunciations WENZ-day and WENZ-dee. I think it's one of those words like cupboard whose pronunciation has long since left its spelling behind.
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Oddly enough, I prounounce it wenz-day. When I proof a schedule or calendar, I do think wed-nes-day, to aid my spelling. I wonder why February is different in my addled brain.
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And wenz-day.
That too. But does anyone actually pronounce that one differently? The OED gives only the pronunciations WENZ-day and WENZ-dee. I think it's one of those words like cupboard whose pronunciation has long since left its spelling behind.
I saw an interview with John Mahoney once where he talked about the way his English accent sometimes came out, and that was the word he used. He was pronouncing it as WED-nz-dee and he said it confused the heck out of the director of whatever he was shooting at the time.
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I say "Febberary."
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I keep the "brew" in Fe-BREW-rary.
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I saw an interview with John Mahoney once where he talked about the way his English accent sometimes came out, and that was the word he used. He was pronouncing it as WED-nz-dee and he said it confused the heck out of the director of whatever he was shooting at the time.
The OED doesn't mention that pronunciation, but apparently Merriam-Webster does. Weird. And even then the pronunciation doesn't quite match the spelling, but that's probably as close as it gets in modern English.
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"I'll take Months That Start With "Feb" for 500, Alex."
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Oddly enough, I prounounce it wenz-day. When I proof a schedule or calendar, I do think wed-nes-day, to aid my spelling. I wonder why February is different in my addled brain.
That's how I am.
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Febtober?
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What is Febturday?
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I know kung fu!
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I would love to spar with you, but I don't want to hurt you or get hurt by you. Is WII far enough along to accomodate that?
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I know kung fu!
I know him, too. He was a math professor back in college.
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Do any of you ever hear Rush Limbaugh? He says the word "schedule" much differently than I do. I thought at first it was just one of his Rush-isms where he was poking fun, but now I'm thinking he really does say it that way. And I have no idea how to write it the way he says it as opposed to the way I say it :(
edit: well, I'll try
I think I say it: SKED -u-al
he says it: Shhed - u - al (a long SH sounds for the sch)
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You listen to Rush? On purpose? *shudder*
That pronunciation of schedule is not uncommon. Among Brits. I generally consider it an affectation when Americans say it that way.
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I believe it's also not uncommon in Canada. Maybe Rush Limbaugh is secretly a Canuck. :fear:
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Maybe Ruth is secretly Rush. :angst:
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You listen to Rush? On purpose? *shudder*
Not very often :P Usually when I'm heading somewhere for lunch and just surfing the radio channels because I'm bored. I can only handle it for so long.
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I believe it's also not uncommon in Canada. Maybe Rush Limbaugh is secretly a Canuck. :fear:
m-w.com seems to indicate that the Canadian and British pronunciations are slightly different. I'm not clear on the distinction it's making though.
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Maybe Ruth is secretly Rush. :angst:
My secret's out. :eyebrow:
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I know kung fu!
For the last time, NO you don't.
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...yet.
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Is that part of the quote? I don't remember.
My brothers quote celebrity Jeopardy all the time:
Sean Connery: "Anal Bum Covers for $1000"
Alex: "That's 'Album Covers'."
~~~~~
Sean Connery: "I'll take 'The Rapists' for $200, Alex."
Alex: "That's 'Therapists'."
And then the whole thing when Nicholas Cage and Martha Stewart were there. Ah, such good times.
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No, that's from final jeopardy in the same skit.
"That's not even a number."
"Yet!"
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Oh yeah! :D
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I'll take Swords for 400, Alex.
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An example of this blade was wielded by Fazil in a parking structure at Madison Square Gardens.
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What is a Toledo Salamanca broadsword?
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You know, I probably should have answered "What is After MASH?" Is it too late to change my answer?
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Speaking of that movie, I ordered 'The Immortal Edition' with my Borders gift card a few weeks ago and I still haven't gotten it. I'm so itching to watch it!!
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I've got about three versions. My favorite so far was the Director's cut where they left in the NAZI scene and stuff.
Looks like Sax is in control of the board.