Word mispronunciation

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More and more these days I'm hearing people mispronounce words, and I don't mean just in every day conversations, I'm hearing people on the radio and on TV do it too. Some of the common mispronounced words I hear are "often" and "especially." I was always taught the "T" in the word "often" was silent, but I hear people today pronouncing the "T." The word "especially" should be pronounced just as it's spelled, but many people today pronounce it "eCKspecially." I don't know why they think there's a "K" sound after the "e." Have you noticed this?
 
I have been to see the Queen.
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Originally Posted by grampi
I was always taught the "T" in the word "often" was silent, but I hear people today pronouncing the "T."


ôf(t)ən

The "t" is a stop consonant, like tie or attack.

The "()" means it may or may not be included in an utterance.

Basically, both ways are correct... with or without the "t" sound.

Language is incredibly flexible.
 
It's common here for people to add an 'h' sound to an 'sm' blend. For example, they will say 'shmock' instead of 'smock', and 'Shmurf' instead of 'Smurf'.

Another one is 'ashpalt' instead of 'asphalt'.

There was a strange phenomenon about 10 - 15 years ago, perhaps specific to Winnipeg, when it was common for people to say 'gone-ver-ZAY-shun' instead of 'conversation'. Made me crazy.

Common car name mispronunciations here are 'Tie-oda' and 'Hi-yoon-day'.

Also 'yuman bean' instead of 'human being'.
 
I always corrected folks that ask for Ex-presso coffee instead of Espresso, pronounced "Es-spresso".
Or the "tree" for the number 3 and Bat-tree instead of Battery.

The one that drives me the most amount of crazy and my OCD just can't help it is when someone says let me "Ax" you a question.
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Originally Posted by StevieC
I always corrected folks that ask for EX-PRESSO coffee instead of Espresso, pronounced "Es-spresso"
Or the "tree" for the number 3 and Bat-tree instead of Battery.

The one that drives me the most amount of crazy and my OCD just can't help it is when someone says let me "Ax" you a question.
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Have you visited Newfoundland? LMAO!
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And yes the "Ex-Spresso" one is pretty common.

There were a pile of words down east, many of them street and location names that you saw the word, then heard how people were pronouncing it and you were thinking, or at least I was, that there was absolutely no way that was correct
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I have Newfoundlanders in the family on my mum's side it's bad to begin with talking to them but add some alcohol and it's like a whole other language.
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Supposedly becomes "suppose-ublee", that drives me.
Clear complexioned has been clear "complected" for years.
And "no problem" has been the standard reply for "thank you" instead of "you are welcome" since valley girl speak took over when disco was the rage.
A lot of words definitions and pronunciations are changing. The english language is in jeopardy. Even the word "murder" is being redefined as we read this thread.
 
asbestos vs. asbestos
molybdenum vs. moly-ben-dum (a kid who was correcting me insisted this was right)
library vs. li-berry
important also becomes im-Po-tent

There are more to be sure
 
Originally Posted by StevieC
The one that drives me the most amount of crazy and my OCD just can't help it is when someone says let me "Ax" you a question.
mad.gif


LOL. I get a kick out of this one as well.

Back when I used to live in Florida, a lot of people would say "Ax".


Another thing that bugs me is the abuse of the term "optics" on the news. Last year, you couldn't get through a single news story without hearing someone utter it. Hopefully it's a fad that will die off soon.
 
My inlaws are great for mispronouncing works. Here are just some.

Sangwich
K-MARTS
WALMARTS
LOWELS
Colonostomy
All Timers
"Mont" St. Helens
Yous Guys
Ascared
 
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Bruschetta

I've been to Italian restaurants where they pronounce it broo-shetta. It's broo-sketta.

Penne

It wasn't an Italian restaurant but they were pronouncing penne as penny. Penny pasta. I didn't order it.
 
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