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Pronunciation Of Words

Discussion in 'Evolution of Language' started by Richard Whiting, Jul 18, 2023.

  1. Richard Whiting

    Richard Whiting Very Well-Known Member
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    When I was growing up we pronounced the word AUNT as "ant".
    For the last several decades I've noticed that many people, including in films , pronounce AUNT as "ont".

    Where did that come from and how do you pronounce it ?
     
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  2. Tony Nathanson

    Tony Nathanson Very Well-Known Member
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    I've always pronounced it "ont" so she wouldn't think I was calling her an insect. :D
     
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  3. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Supreme Member
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    I think "ont" is common in areas where they have maintained closer ties to British heritage. We always said "ant."

    Old time actors and actresses used to have a different way of saying many things. Maybe it was a carry over from old stage performances.
     
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  4. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Supreme Member
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    One that confuses me is "short-lived."

    I always said "lived" as in, "I lived in an apartment." Some people pronounce "lived" with a long i, as is "alive" I guess both are acceptable. o_O
     
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  5. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I pronounce it "ant."
     
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  6. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Funny, I was just thinking of this subject a while ago regarding the word "again."

    With one exception, everyone I've known pronounces it uh-gen.
    Only one friend pronounced it ā-gain.
    edit to add: The second way is pronounced with 3 syllables: ā--in

    Regarding "aunt"...I was raised on the opposite side of the track from people who pronounced it "ont." I say "ant."
     
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    Last edited: Jul 18, 2023
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  7. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    How about "route?" I am strange; when I'm referring to a highway, I say "root" (Route 66), but when I'm asking for directions I say "rowt." Hmmmm.
     
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I used both, as goofy as that sounds. I'm trying to think if there are certain contexts for each pronunciation, or if I do it randomly. I'm kinda thinking that I would use the "lived in an apartment" pronunciation if I were referring to an event, and the "alive" [life] pronunciation if I were referring to a living creature/behaviour.
     
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  9. Dave Oy

    Dave Oy Active Member
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    Definitely ANT here in Lancashire.
     
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  10. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    It's always been "ant" to me.
     
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  11. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Pleasure.

    Pleh-zure or Play-zure?

    And why nor Plee-zure, as in "plea" or "please"?
     
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  12. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    Pleasure, for me, it's not "pleh-zure" because it's not a "z" sound. It's an "s" sound, but more like "pleh-shuer," but with a soft "s" sound.
     
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  13. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Yeh, I tried to work a "szh" sound in there. I guess I could have looked up the phonetic spelling(s).

    plEzhUHR
    ple-zhər
    plezh-er

    Interesting how zh represents a hard sh sound.
     
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  14. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I have to say, I have never heard anyone say "play-zure."

    And "vase" is pronounced vace... not vahse. :p
     
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  15. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I was watching an old movie last night when a character pronounced "pleasure" that way. I'm not certain I had ever heard it like that before, either.

    And I agree about the flower container...unless I got one for sale. Then it's a vahse.
     
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