Author Topic: Words that you can never, ever say right (Read 14266 times)

Jonathon · « **on:** June 14, 2005, 01:52:49 PM »

"Social security." I dread saying it because I always botch that first s. It drives me crazy.

Brinestone · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2005, 02:02:04 PM »

Ancient. I never knew I was saying it wrong until Jonathon pointed it out, and ever since then I've been paying attention. No one says it the way I do. I say angk-shent. As in, the first syllable is like the one in anxious. And now every time I hear someone say anxious, I think "Hah! There's someone who pronounces it the way I do!" and then I remember it's the wrong word. Oh, dear.

Jonathon · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2005, 03:01:38 PM »

Quote

No one says it the way I do.

That's not true. Your mom does.

saxon75 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2005, 03:05:00 PM »

Quote

I always botch that first s.

Thocial Security?
Focial Security?
Ocial Security?
Banana fanna fority?

Jonathon · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2005, 03:12:00 PM »

More like "shocial security."

scottneb · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2005, 08:13:05 PM »

If I say "Shocial" I want to follow it up with "Shecurity."

Jonathon · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2005, 09:01:58 PM »

But by that point, I've usually made a graceful recovery.

Bop · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2005, 11:39:14 AM »

I hate trying to say the word, rural.

Leto II · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2005, 03:48:29 PM »

Heh. I have a hard time pronouncing "rural" as well.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2005, 05:29:11 PM »

Jonathon can probably think of more words I can never say right than me. He studied us, ya know.

Porter · « **Reply #10 on:** August 13, 2005, 06:26:29 PM »

I can't think of anything that I have a hard time saying.

Mary?

Leto II · « **Reply #11 on:** August 13, 2005, 07:11:36 PM »

You have a hard time saying "Mary"?

That must be awkward. Do you say it incorrectly, or do you simply say some other name?

Porter · « **Reply #12 on:** August 13, 2005, 07:35:41 PM »

I'll assume you are joking.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2005, 08:33:17 PM »

Quote

You have a hard time saying "Mary"?

That must be awkward. Do you say it incorrectly, or do you simply say some other name?

He says it like "merry." How embarassing.

Dinky · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2005, 09:19:16 PM »

My grandmother's name is Merri.

pattyshmack · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2005, 10:23:54 PM »

How about Canadian as: Canahdian or realtor as: realator.

AFR · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2005, 10:49:49 AM »

I can never decide how to say words like "futile" and "docile." Is it "few-tile" and "doss-ile" or is it "few-tul" and "doss-ul"?

Jono · « **Reply #17 on:** August 15, 2005, 10:57:44 AM »

Both.

AFR · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2005, 11:00:41 AM »

Another few-tile attempt to get a straight answer out of a linguist.

Jono · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2005, 11:04:07 AM »

If you want to side with the majority of American English speakers, go with the schwa pronuncations. However, both are regarded as correct, and I don't think there's any sort of regional distinction.

pooka · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2005, 02:26:26 PM »

I pronounce the w in sword.

:cries with relief:

It is my secret pain.

Leto II · « **Reply #21 on:** August 15, 2005, 03:26:33 PM »

I pronounce the L in Salmon, unless I make a specific effort not to.

(Come to think of it, I may finally have been trained out of that one . . . )

-o-

There are a few other words (really common ones) that I pronounce exactly as written that a lot of people apparently don't, but I can't remember right now what they are. Just that I get funny looks sometimes.

Porter · « **Reply #22 on:** August 15, 2005, 03:28:41 PM »

I prounounce both Rs in February.

r!vk@ · « **Reply #23 on:** August 15, 2005, 03:34:02 PM »

Both or all 3?

Porter · « **Reply #24 on:** August 15, 2005, 03:39:59 PM »

You just blew my mind.

What are you talking about?