Comments for Linguism http://www.linguism.co.uk Language in a word Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:06:06 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on Coerced pronunciation by Graham http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/coerced-pronunciation/comment-page-1#comment-70456 Graham Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:06:06 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1083#comment-70456 Marc - Yes, of course, there are variant pronunciations, and inevitably there must have been a first person to use each one. In BrE as well, both pronunciations of "consummate" are heard, with "KONs(y)oomayt" now crowding out the other. In the case of "co-herce", however, unless other people start to pick up on the person I heard - and particularly if that person regularly uses that pronunciation - I stick to believing that it was a case of nerves rather than deliberation when I heard it. Marc – Yes, of course, there are variant pronunciations, and inevitably there must have been a first person to use each one. In BrE as well, both pronunciations of “consummate” are heard, with “KONs(y)oomayt” now crowding out the other. In the case of “co-herce”, however, unless other people start to pick up on the person I heard – and particularly if that person regularly uses that pronunciation – I stick to believing that it was a case of nerves rather than deliberation when I heard it.

]]> Comment on Coerced pronunciation by Marc Leavitt http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/coerced-pronunciation/comment-page-1#comment-70435 Marc Leavitt Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:53:27 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1083#comment-70435 Graham: I take your point, but there are times when poetic license allows variant pronunciations in formal speaking as well as conversation. I speak of deliberate choice. "In AmE the adjective "Consummate" is pronounced "CONsuhmet," but it is also pronounced "cunSUMet." The first seems to be edging out the second, but the choice is there. If you disagree, I'm open to instruction. Graham:
I take your point, but there are times when poetic license allows variant pronunciations in formal speaking as well as conversation. I speak of deliberate choice. “In AmE the adjective “Consummate” is pronounced “CONsuhmet,” but it is also pronounced “cunSUMet.” The first seems to be edging out the second, but the choice is there. If you disagree, I’m open to instruction.

]]> Comment on lure, allure by Laughman http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/lure-allure/comment-page-1#comment-70112 Laughman Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:00:38 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=208#comment-70112 A round of applause for your blog article. Thank you! looking forward to more. A round of applause for your blog article. Thank you! looking forward to more.

]]> Comment on Coerced pronunciation by Jack Windsor Lewis http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/coerced-pronunciation/comment-page-1#comment-69436 Jack Windsor Lewis Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:37:56 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1083#comment-69436 Dear Graham May I say first that "acclaim" was certainly the appropriate choice of word for your first paragraph. I shd also like to say that I highly respect the admirable rule you mention by which you play our game. But I shd like to mention a rule of my own as a player in our spot-the-faulty-pronunciation game. It's that I don't even make a note of any apparent transgression unless I'm quite sure that it's highly unlikely to've been a slip of the tung and I prefer to've he·rd it clearly more than once from the speaker — without counting my repeated listening to a single token played back from a recording. I'm rather shamefaced at the moment from not having stuck to my virtuous avowed practice in my Blog 383. Having sed that, I may say that I much enjoyed reading this comment of yours. Best wishes! Dear Graham
May I say first that “acclaim” was certainly the appropriate choice of word for your first paragraph. I shd also like to say that I highly respect the admirable rule you mention by which you play our game. But I shd like to mention a rule of my own as a player in our spot-the-faulty-pronunciation game. It’s that I don’t even make a note of any apparent transgression unless I’m quite sure that it’s highly unlikely to’ve been a slip of the tung and I prefer to’ve he·rd it clearly more than once from the speaker — without counting my repeated listening to a single token played back from a recording. I’m rather shamefaced at the moment from not having stuck to my virtuous avowed practice in my Blog 383.
Having sed that, I may say that I much enjoyed reading this comment of yours. Best wishes!

]]> Comment on lure, allure by Wingo http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/lure-allure/comment-page-1#comment-69014 Wingo Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:36:42 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=208#comment-69014 Hey very helpful info here, I like the theme, btw. Bookmarked you, thanks! Hey very helpful info here, I like the theme, btw. Bookmarked you, thanks!

]]> Comment on Eviscerating cholera by Kevin http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/eviscerating-cholera/comment-page-1#comment-68533 Kevin Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:25:44 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1077#comment-68533 What depresses me most is that the producers of these programmes (if indeed these programmes ARE produced, rather than merely recorded) are so clearly lacking in education themselves that they do not even notice these (let us call them:) eccentric pronunciations. How many people, at the BBC (or at the "independent production companies" who these days provide a significant part of the Corporation's output) now LISTEN, critically, to programme content before it hits the airwaves? Sometimes I wonder if it's not a case of deferring to the majesty of well-known broadcasters. Did no-one at the BBC _really_ notice, before the programme went out, that in a talk about Florence last year a very senior presenter of current-affairs and literary programmes on Radio 4 gave an account of the football-like game played in that city since ancient times, and called it ...calico! What depresses me most is that the producers of these programmes (if indeed these programmes ARE produced, rather than merely recorded) are so clearly lacking in education themselves that they do not even notice these (let us call them:) eccentric pronunciations.

How many people, at the BBC (or at the “independent production companies” who these days provide a significant part of the Corporation’s output) now LISTEN, critically, to programme content before it hits the airwaves?

Sometimes I wonder if it’s not a case of deferring to the majesty of well-known broadcasters. Did no-one at the BBC _really_ notice, before the programme went out, that in a talk about Florence last year a very senior presenter of current-affairs and literary programmes on Radio 4 gave an account of the football-like game played in that city since ancient times, and called it …calico!

]]> Comment on Breast implants by Jack Windsor Lewis http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/breast-implants/comment-page-1#comment-68447 Jack Windsor Lewis Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:24:05 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1074#comment-68447 Having regard to this subject I dont suppose you shd have any difficulty in replying to my riddle "Why is a calzone different from a flat pizza? Answer: Becoz it's had an implant. Having regard to this subject
I dont suppose you shd have any difficulty in replying to my riddle
“Why is a calzone different from a flat pizza?
Answer: Becoz it’s had an implant.

]]> Comment on Eviscerating cholera by Jack Windsor Lewis http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/eviscerating-cholera/comment-page-1#comment-68444 Jack Windsor Lewis Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:14:18 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1077#comment-68444 In regard to /strəˈtiːdʒɪst/, I don't find it /sӕkrə'liːʤɪst/ In regard to /strəˈtiːdʒɪst/, I don’t find it /sӕkrə’liːʤɪst/

]]> Comment on Eviscerating cholera by Jack Windsor Lewis http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/eviscerating-cholera/comment-page-1#comment-68442 Jack Windsor Lewis Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:01:51 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1077#comment-68442 See my Blog 383 See my Blog 383

]]> Comment on Eviscerating cholera by Graham http://www.linguism.co.uk/language/eviscerating-cholera/comment-page-1#comment-68338 Graham Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:39:17 +0000 http://www.linguism.co.uk/?p=1077#comment-68338 Petr - I do try to keep my cool, but it's very difficult sometimes. And another one I've heard recently, from a voice over: /strəˈtiːdʒɪst/. Where do they find these people? Petr – I do try to keep my cool, but it’s very difficult sometimes. And another one I’ve heard recently, from a voice over: /strəˈtiːdʒɪst/. Where do they find these people?

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