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Direct Link To This Post Topic: More pronunciation: right/write
    Posted: June 29 2013 at 10:40
My last thread here (the Ian-thread) was a big hit. Now I have a problem with Norwegians saying that the "w" in "write" is pronounced. I tell them that it isn’t; "write" is pronounced exactly like "right". Am eye write?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 10:47
You're absolutely rite. Smile
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 12:39
Maybe we should create one thread about English language problems instead of starting a new one for every issue?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 13:57
Left!

I mean, right.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 15:01
Silent w

Although I think it is rather good there are people willing to bring back the (presumably) original pronunciation.


Edited by Snow Dog - June 29 2013 at 15:02
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 15:24
Actually I do pronounce the w....kind of. I know  it's there.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 16:01
Never really thought about it, but I do pronounce the 'w' as well.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 17:20
Of course the 'W' is, or was supposed to be, pronounced.   That's why it's there.   Just like the K in Knudsen and the X in xylophone.   There's no such thing as "silent" letters.   It's absurd.   Why use them if they're silent when another indica  would serve.

The Norwegians are right.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 18:09
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

There's no such thing as "silent" letters. 
Tell this to the French. LOL
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 19:19
Originally posted by NotAProghead NotAProghead wrote:

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

There's no such thing as "silent" letters. 
Tell this to the French. LOL


Indeed: at the very second I read Atavachron's post, I started to laugh in a most sardonical way, a bit a la "Mwahahaha!"
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 19:28
^ I guess he's kidding.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 19:42
No I'm not kidding, and I wouldn't tell that to the French anyway because it would be rude (Tongue) and also I suspect many of their "silent" letters only appear, or have mutated, into silence.   I took French, there's nothing silent about it.   Subtle, but not silent.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2013 at 19:51
How is pronounced the sentence "Wright, write the right rite."?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2013 at 00:52
Originally posted by CPicard CPicard wrote:

How is pronounced the sentence "Wright, write the right rite."?
"Wright, write the right rite."

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2013 at 09:06
Thanks for your answers, everyone! I also asked my English friend Caz in Ipswich, and she wrote:

To answer your question regarding “right” and “write”, you’re correct the pronunciation is the same for both words.

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

Of course the 'W' is, or was supposed to be, pronounced.   That's why it's there.   Just like the K in Knudsen and the X in xylophone.   There's no such thing as "silent" letters.   It's absurd.   Why use them if they're silent when another indica  would serve.

The Norwegians are right.



No silent silent letters? How do you pronounce "knight" and "psalm"? Or "Close to the Edge"?


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2013 at 09:10
^ Thanks, I did not know "psalm" is pronounced as [ sa:m].
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2013 at 16:27
Originally posted by refugee refugee wrote:

Thanks for your answers, everyone! I also asked my English friend Caz in Ipswich, and she wrote:

To answer your question regarding “right” and “write”, you’re correct the pronunciation is the same for both words.

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

Of course the 'W' is, or was supposed to be, pronounced.   That's why it's there.   Just like the K in Knudsen and the X in xylophone.   There's no such thing as "silent" letters.   It's absurd.   Why use them if they're silent when another indica  would serve.

The Norwegians are right.

No silent silent letters? How do you pronounce "knight" and "psalm"? Or "Close to the Edge"?

You would - or were supposed to - pronounce 'knight' with a very subtle "k" at the beginning and an equally subtle "gh" in the middle, just like you pronounce 'sword' with a subtle "sw" sound.    Again, that's why those letters are there.   If you pronounced 'knight' with no "K", how is someone supposed to know you don't mean 'night' ?    Sure context plays an important part but it's not everything.    Language is not unlike math in that way, it was meant to be very precise.





Edited by Atavachron - June 30 2013 at 16:28
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2013 at 17:09
First, pronunciations change over time. Knight In older varieties of English, knight was pronounced (roughly) k-neekht. Now, the k is silent. I don't know for sure about write, but I assume it's a similar thing.

Second, pronunciation varies by regional dialect. I'm from the American south, and while I don't have a strong southern accent, I was raised with no one pronouncing the "h" in which, when, where, etc., "pen" and "pin" being homophones and accenting the first syllable rather than the second in words like "umbrella" and "thanksgiving."

There is really no right and wrong when it comes to pronunciation. If the Norwegians want to slip a little w in at the beginning of write, wrong and wring, it doesn't bother me, although it's not something I've heard in any of the dialects with which I am familiar.

In most American/English dialects, write and right are pronounced the same.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2013 at 05:24
 
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

Originally posted by refugee refugee wrote:

Thanks for your answers, everyone! I also asked my English friend Caz in Ipswich, and she wrote:

To answer your question regarding “right” and “write”, you’re correct the pronunciation is the same for both words.

Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

Of course the 'W' is, or was supposed to be, pronounced.   That's why it's there.   Just like the K in Knudsen and the X in xylophone.   There's no such thing as "silent" letters.   It's absurd.   Why use them if they're silent when another indica  would serve.

The Norwegians are right.

No silent silent letters? How do you pronounce "knight" and "psalm"? Or "Close to the Edge"?

You would - or were supposed to - pronounce 'knight' with a very subtle "k" at the beginning and an equally subtle "gh" in the middle, just like you pronounce 'sword' with a subtle "sw" sound.    Again, that's why those letters are there.   If you pronounced 'knight' with no "K", how is someone supposed to know you don't mean 'night' ?    Sure context plays an important part but it's not everything.    Language is not unlike math in that way, it was meant to be very precise.



I wish you a good knight, and god knew year, and hopes it bring joy and sLaughter Tongue

Edited by aginor - December 29 2013 at 05:25
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 29 2013 at 05:30
I gnu ewe wood say that. 
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