I cannot support LibriVox

MARTIN GEESON · Post by **MARTIN GEESON** » August 11th, 2010, 12:03 pm

Hi

In my experience, Britishers not only put in the extra 'h', but also convert the second 'a' to an 'e' - resulting in ash-felt. I would say that this was widespread among working class speakers of my generation (born poor in 1951).

Martin

Steampunk · Post by **Steampunk** » August 11th, 2010, 12:54 pm

MikaInSwitz wrote:(Is there already a thread for this sort of thing? Other than the bloopers one?)

There's this one:

http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1269

It's old, but worthy of a bump, if you like.

Though we seem to have successfully hijacked this troll thread, which gives me a certain measure of schadenfreude.

Jim

Post by **annise** » August 11th, 2010, 2:31 pm

At school we kids always "played on the ash felt" but were corrected by teachers and families - but I still read it as ashfelt in my head and then correct it - same with gaol - always think it as goal then change it to jail.

Anne

Starlite · Post by **Starlite** » August 11th, 2010, 2:58 pm

TriciaG wrote:"ash-fault". There's no H in the first syllable!

What? There isn't?!?!?!

I beg forgiveness since my parents were not native English speakers.

Esther

earthcalling · Post by **earthcalling** » August 12th, 2010, 12:42 am

This is all good fun, but so far not one of us has volunteered to listen to the entire LV catalogue and point out all the pispronounciations and get the original readers to correct them.

Come one, people.

RuthieG · Post by **RuthieG** » August 12th, 2010, 1:00 am

TriciaG wrote:One thing that drives me crazy is my husband's pronunciation of asphalt. Merriam Webster once again calls his version the British pronunciation, but it is like nails on a chalkboard to hear "ash-fault". There's no H in the first syllable!

It is not a British pronunciation. It may be a British error, but not a recognised British pronunciation. (QED OED

)

Also according to the Oxford English Dictionary:

Respite may be pronounced RESPite or RESPit, but the stress should always be on the first syllable.

Awry is always a-WRY, rhyming with lie, with the stress on the second syllable.

The OED is my pronunciation bible, and I use it all the time.

Note for British readers: Access to the Oxford English Dictionary Online is available to users with valid library cards from subscribing libraries. If your local library subscribes (as does the Kent Libraries Service) you can enter your library card number to access the OED online, as well as many other very useful reference works.

Ruth

neckertb · Post by **neckertb** » August 12th, 2010, 1:00 am

earthcalling wrote:This is all good fun, but so far not one of us has volunteered to listen to the entire LV catalogue and point out all the pispronounciations and get the original readers to correct them.

Come one, people.

I'll volunteer for finding typos, there is one already

RuthieG · Post by **RuthieG** » August 12th, 2010, 1:02 am

there is one already

But a gloriously appropriate one.

I think I shall use it in future.

russiandoll · Post by **russiandoll** » August 12th, 2010, 1:05 am

That's not a typo. It's a homage to Ronnie Barker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ0nFQgRApY

Kaffen · Post by **Kaffen** » August 12th, 2010, 8:37 am

I was going to suggest that it was strange for a stickler like kluelos to isolate each sentence on a different line instead of aggregating them into paragraphs when they supported the same idea... but frankly, I enjoyed all the white space!

Wish I could be absolutely sure the thought above was written with absolutely perfect attention to the rules of grammar, but there you are!

ExEmGe · Post by **ExEmGe** » August 12th, 2010, 9:00 am

Kaffen wrote: ...but frankly, I enjoyed all the white space!

Ah, like Sydney Smith on Macaulay "He has occasional flashes of silence, that make his conversation perfectly delightful."

RuthieG · Post by **RuthieG** » August 12th, 2010, 11:55 am

This whole thread has become a perfectly delightful conversation. Who'd a thought it? <innocent grin>

Ruth

kayray · Post by **kayray** » August 12th, 2010, 12:53 pm

RuthieG wrote:

Note for British readers: Access to the Oxford English Dictionary Online is available to users with valid library cards from subscribing libraries. If your local library subscribes (as does the Kent Libraries Service) you can enter your library card number to access the OED online, as well as many other very useful reference works.

Ruth

That does it. I'm moving to England.

Nicholas19 · Post by **Nicholas19** » August 13th, 2010, 10:52 am

MikaInSwitz wrote:I'm sure something like this has happened to all of us at some point... right? No? Just me then.

When I was about 15, I remember pronouncing belie like belly and draught as drawt.

ExEmGe · Post by **ExEmGe** » August 13th, 2010, 11:07 am

I was just watchig a television general knowledge quiz. The questionmaster referred to the 'bow' of a ship and pronounced it to rhyme as in bow tie. The contestant then, answering, pronounced 'bow' in 'bowsprit' as though it were spelled 'bough'
I really don't think any of us need worry too much!
Actually I think I pronounce a number of words wrongly. The trouble is, I don't know which they are.