Pronunciation watch

[vinteuil]

"Efficacy". A quick Internet search suggests that both British and American English pronunciation put the stress on the first syllable. However, one frequently hears medical professionals put the stress on the second syllable. What is the origin and rationale of this variant?

" ... a stressed syllable followed by three unstressed ones is very unpopular except with professors & the like if there is an alternative handy... "

[ A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, HW Fowler 1927 , entry concerning contumely ]

cf COMmunal, COMparable, CONtroversy, COMbatant, CONtumely .

[Bryn]

" ... a stressed syllable followed by three unstressed ones is very unpopular except with professors & the like if there is an alternative handy... "

[ A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, HW Fowler 1927 , entry concerning contumely ]

cf COMmunal, COMparable, CONtroversy, COMbatant, CONtumely .

Would not it be more likely that the stress on the first syllable of "efficacy" helps clearly differentiate it from "efficiency"?

[gurnemanz]

Americans often stress the first syllable when we don't: address, translate, enquiry, resource, princess, Baghdad etc etc - not sure why.

I thought contumely was a word Shakespeare made up.

[Bryn]

Americans often stress the first syllable when we don't: address, translate, enquiry, resource, princess, Baghdad etc etc - not sure why.

I thought contumely was a word Shakespeare made up.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/contumely

[Pulcinella]

If the origin is such, I hope the false link in meaning is not carried over with the pronunciation. To confound efficacy with efficiency would be a major error.

Maybe we all need a dose of Lily the Pink's medicinal compound to help us distinguish between these two words: it's efficacious in every case, I understand!

[Bryn]

Maybe we all need a dose of Lily the Pink's medicinal compound to help us distinguish between these two words: it's efficacious in every case, I understand!

'cept it was "The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham" until led to the Scaffold.

[gurnemanz]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/contumely

Thanks. I should have checked. The word never really caught on and declining (Google Ngram). Maybe we should start a revival. According to David Crystal's Shakespeare's Words its appearance in Hamlet's soliloquy is the bard's only use, whereas the adjective "contumelious" is used twice (Henry VI Pt 1, and Timon of Athens.)

[kernelbogey]

I was noticing how BBC weather forecasters tend to pronounce 'mild' and 'milder' more like mahld than m-eye-ld.

There's a parallel with how 'my' and 'I' are pronounced in rock and pop music - mah love, 'Ah love you' etc. Some British singers (e.g. Dido) who sing with mostly an English accent will prononounce 'my' and 'I' in this way.

So I'm curious if this is a trend in pronunicaton of the i and y sounds.

(Note to self: learn International Phonetic Alphabet)

[french frank]

I was noticing how BBC weather forecasters tend to pronounce 'mild' and 'milder' more like mahld than m-eye-ld.

There's a parallel with how 'my' and 'I' are pronounced in rock and pop music - mah love, 'Ah love you' etc. Some British singers (e.g. Dido) who sing with mostly an English accent will prononounce 'my' and 'I' in this way.

So I'm curious if this is a trend in pronunicaton of the i and y sounds.

(Note to self: learn International Phonetic Alphabet)

OED pronunciation: Brit. /mʌɪld/ U.S. /maɪld/

[vinteuil]

OED pronunciation: Brit. /mʌɪld/ U.S. /maɪld/

HMQ pronunciation : /meɪld/

[Serial_Apologist]

HMQ pronunciation : /meɪld/

The late, Canadian-born trumpeter Kenny Wheeler (0ne of that land's best exports to this country) named one of his compositions "Miold Man" - he's obviously been living in Leytonstone for quite a number of years!

[gurnemanz]

I was noticing how BBC weather forecasters tend to pronounce 'mild' and 'milder' more like mahld than m-eye-ld.

There's a parallel with how 'my' and 'I' are pronounced in rock and pop music - mah love, 'Ah love you' etc. Some British singers (e.g. Dido) who sing with mostly an English accent will prononounce 'my' and 'I' in this way.

So I'm curious if this is a trend in pronunicaton of the i and y sounds.

(Note to self: learn International Phonetic Alphabet)

Maybe influenced by American pronunciation, especially southern states. Eg a wine enthusiast from Alabama: "Ah lahk fahn wahn".

[vinteuil]

Maybe influenced by American pronunciation, especially southern states. Eg a wine enthusiast from Alabama: "Ah lahk fahn wahn".

... cf HMQ : "ay layk fayn wayn"

.

[Serial_Apologist]

... cf HMQ : "ay layk fayn wayn"

.

She's right: Wayne Shorter is a very great jazz musician.

[vinteuil]

She's right: Wayne Shorter is a very great jazz musician.

... but Wayne Sleep is Shorter


.