Pronunciation watch

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

But they are usually speaking French and German, not English.

Not wishing to create divisions here, but northerners, Scots and Welsh generally open their mouths when speaking English, as do French, German, Spanish, Polish and Italians when speaking our language. (Even the Americans do. Quick exit. )

[french frank]

Er, yes. Though my point was that those whose native language is not English will tend to do when speaking English what they do when speaking their own language - in this particular respect to which you draw attention. But I'm not too bothered: we speak with different accents from how people used to speak 500 years ago. Nothing stands still. We may notice it but are unlikely to be able to turn the tide back.

I have, though, noticed that when I get an automated call from my bank asking for verification that I have indeed just set up a new online payment recipient, the robot (if such it/she is) always signs off with: "Gid-bye." And "Gid-bye", I always reply…

Not wishing to create divisions here, but northerners, Scots and Welsh generally open their mouths when speaking English, as do French, German, Spanish, Polish and Italians when speaking our language. (Even the Americans do. Quick exit. )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have, though, noticed that when I get an automated call from my bank asking for verification that I have indeed just set up a new online payment recipient, the robot (if such it/she is) always signs off with: "Gid-bye." And "Gid-bye", I always reply…

[jean]

Brecksit or breggzit?

ELECtoral or elecTORal?

[Serial_Apologist]

Brecksit or breggzit?

ELECtoral or elecTORal?

Imv the first, in both cases.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Imv the first, in both cases.

- though more "eLECtoral" in my case; but perhaps that was what jean meant - the capital "E" just because it was at the start of a "sentence"?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Thus Trafalgar is regular - stress on last syllable, no accent required. ...

I would pronounce it TrafAlgar in English, e.g when referring to the battle, Trafalgar Day....but the Spanish way in, er, Spanish, obviously.

Seem to recall that there are English folk songs (or are they modern quasi-folk songs?) in which Trafalgar is stressed as Traf'lGAR. The example that comes to mind is something about 'the night of Trafalgar'.

[oddoneout]

Several times recently I've heard something called 'assthetics' spoken about. Is this practised by assthetes and if so how do they differ from athletes?

[teamsaint]

Seem to recall that there are English folk songs (or are they modern quasi-folk songs?) in which Trafalgar is stressed as Traf'lGAR. The example that comes to mind is something about 'the night of Trafalgar'.

Trafalgar House at Downton, S Wilts gets the same treatment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/luxury/the-country-mansion-and-once-family-seat-of-britains-greatest-ev/

all sounds a bit like linguistic Naval Gazing........

[Richard Tarleton]

all sounds a bit like linguistic Naval Gazing........

I expect this lot pronounce it TrafALgar - unless anyone here knows otherwise?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Having recently betrayed my northern roots by emigrating to Devon, I was expecting a change in general pronunciation, due to the different regional accents. However, what surprised me most was the way many Yorkshire people speak from the the back of the mouth, giving a persistent nasal effect, but in Devon, most sounds are voiced from the front of the mouth - essential for the regional twang.

[teamsaint]

Why is this thread called pronunciation watch ?

Mods?........

[Serial_Apologist]

I don't see the/a problem.

[teamsaint]

I don't see the/a problem.

I hear what you're saying.

[Serial_Apologist]

Must be the weather...