August 3, 2012
by Graham
5 Comments
Dictionaries which try to show the pronunciation of words can basically use one of two methods: either they can use a respelling system (this was the only possibility for dictionaries compiled up to the middle of the 19th century), or … Continue reading
June 26, 2012
by Graham
5 Comments
This weekend’s papers have brought up (quite inadvertently on their part) a problem caused by the development of non-rhotic accents: “High Street banks are often reluctant to invest in what they see as risky and uncharted territory” (Mail on Sunday, … Continue reading
April 14, 2012
by Graham
2 Comments
During the 1970s and 1980s, there was frequent adverse comment in the press and to the broadcast media (I was at the end of quite a lot of complaints) about the phrase “at this moment in time”. Complainants generally said … Continue reading
March 18, 2012
by Graham
5 Comments
In a New Year broadcast, the veteran radio critic of the Daily Telegraph, Gillian Reynolds, took the BBC’s “Today” presenters to task for their umming and erring. When they were about to interview someone, she said, they must often have … Continue reading
February 22, 2012
by Graham
13 Comments
The points of the compass provide us with an interesting example of one word having two opposite meanings: A westerly wind is coming from the west. A person travelling in a westerly direction is going to the west. The same … Continue reading
February 11, 2012
by Graham
8 Comments
The realisation of /θ/ as /f/ in English (and similarly for its voiced equivalent) has long been thought of as a Cockney trait, made fun of by generations of comedians, and bemoaned by countless traditionalists as heralding the demise of … Continue reading
January 9, 2012
by Graham
6 Comments
I don’t know why, after all these years, I should still be surprised by odd pronunciations, but I am. Two that have recently come my way, both from the BBC, are eviscerate, pronounced /iˈvɪskəreɪt/ by Simon Sebag Montefiore presenting the … Continue reading
January 3, 2012
by Graham
5 Comments
I thought that would get your attention! The substance that these controversial objects are made from is causing some confusion. There are two separate materials: silicon and silicone. Silicon is a non-metallic element, symbolised by Si, used for its properties … Continue reading
December 9, 2011
by Graham
4 Comments
John Wells’ blog post yesterday deals with ejectives in English. He’s kind enough to mention my own post on this subject some time ago, but I’m surprised he believes that I think it’s a recent phenomenon. I wrote then “I … Continue reading
November 11, 2011
by Graham
1 Comment
A report on BBC’s regional news programme for East Anglia yesterday evening (10 November 2011), and unfortunately not available for watching again after 6 o’clock GMT on 11 November (so you can’t check what I’m about to say after that … Continue reading