Here's Another Pronunciation Difference Thread for You

[VRBeauty]

How about merry, marry and Mary? Not homonyms to me!

OK - to me... "merry" has a shorter "eh" sound (duration-wise) than "marry" and ""Mary," which sound the same to me. Of course this difference would not show up if you try to write these words phonetically, so I guess it exists only in my mind!

One of my friends, a pretty high-ranking executive, pronounces "gonna," as in "going to," as "gunna." Not "goanna", but "gunna," kinda like a what a southern version of "gunner" might sound like. Since a lot of what she addresses is what we as an organization are going to do, she "gunna"'s all the time. Drives me batty... it's all I can do to not jump in and correct her. Makes me consciously try to use "going to" rather than an abbreviation just because I don't want to fall into the "gunna" trap.

It's much easier to fixate on something like this than bigger issues.

 

[justginger]

Here in the Boston area...all bets are off!

"I left my c-a-h keys in my k-h-a-k-i-s."

"aahnt" = "aunt."

LOL!!! I love Bostonian talk!!! There is a slight slight /r/ in there for car, though, no?

Nope, no slight /r/. We save those r's to transition from a word ending in a vowel to a word beginning with one. Example: That idea /r/ of yours is great!

The short vowel sounds of i and e are completely different to me. Also, pin and pen are one syllable words the way I say them. When I think of the sound of someone pronouncing those words identically I think of a drawn-out southern accent making it 1 1/2 syllables. Pi - en.

How about merry, marry and Mary? Not homonyms to me!

All of these pronunciation things you're mentioning are Australian/English as well. Especially using the /r/ to transition between two vowels. It makes me laugh because a common place I notice it is if someone is saying "America." I.e.: I just saw a program about Americerrrron tv.

One that I had to TRY to pronounce differently, and can if I focus, is Aaron versus Erin. At home both were pronounced Air-in. Here, Aaron is pronounced Ah(the noise that 'at' starts with)-rin. It still sounds off when I say Aaron because I have to FORCE my mouth in the right shape (sometimes I just say, "the boy version of Erin"). This is also the difference in sound between merry and marry. I would pronounce both as mare-eee. But in Australia, that's merry, while marry is Mah(again the same a sound as 'at')-ree.

 

[amc80]

All of these pronunciation things you're mentioning are Australian/English as well. Especially using the /r/ to transition between two vowels. It makes me laugh because a common place I notice it is if someone is saying "America." I.e.: I just saw a program about Americerrrron tv.

One that I had to TRY to pronounce differently, and can if I focus, is Aaron versus Erin. At home both were pronounced Air-in. Here, Aaron is pronounced Ah(the noise that 'at' starts with)-rin. It still sounds off when I say Aaron because I have to FORCE my mouth in the right shape (sometimes I just say, "the boy version of Erin"). This is also the difference in sound between merry and marry. I would pronounce both as mare-eee. But in Australia, that's merry, while marry is Mah(again the same a sound as 'at')-ree.

This made me laugh. I lived in NZ for a year, as an exchange student. My host sister's name was Lisa, but very often I would hear people say something like Leaser.

I also had a friend there named Erin. I would pronounce it the same as Aaron. Erin, to them, was more of an Ear-rin type of sound.

 

[justginger]

All of these pronunciation things you're mentioning are Australian/English as well. Especially using the /r/ to transition between two vowels. It makes me laugh because a common place I notice it is if someone is saying "America." I.e.: I just saw a program about Americerrrron tv.

One that I had to TRY to pronounce differently, and can if I focus, is Aaron versus Erin. At home both were pronounced Air-in. Here, Aaron is pronounced Ah(the noise that 'at' starts with)-rin. It still sounds off when I say Aaron because I have to FORCE my mouth in the right shape (sometimes I just say, "the boy version of Erin"). This is also the difference in sound between merry and marry. I would pronounce both as mare-eee. But in Australia, that's merry, while marry is Mah(again the same a sound as 'at')-ree.

This made me laugh. I lived in NZ for a year, as an exchange student. My host sister's name was Lisa, but very often I would hear people say something like Leaser.

I also had a friend there named Erin. I would pronounce it the same as Aaron. Erin, to them, was more of an Ear-rin type of sound.

Sometimes when DH says a slang word or name of a person I don't know for the first time, I have to ask him to spell it. I never know if it contains what I affectionately call a "silent R". Carla? Or is that Cahla? They under pronounce their Rs so much, I find it endearing. That is, Gingah finds it endearing.

 

[justginger]

All of these pronunciation things you're mentioning are Australian/English as well. Especially using the /r/ to transition between two vowels. It makes me laugh because a common place I notice it is if someone is saying "America." I.e.: I just saw a program about Americerrrron tv.

One that I had to TRY to pronounce differently, and can if I focus, is Aaron versus Erin. At home both were pronounced Air-in. Here, Aaron is pronounced Ah(the noise that 'at' starts with)-rin. It still sounds off when I say Aaron because I have to FORCE my mouth in the right shape (sometimes I just say, "the boy version of Erin"). This is also the difference in sound between merry and marry. I would pronounce both as mare-eee. But in Australia, that's merry, while marry is Mah(again the same a sound as 'at')-ree.

This made me laugh. I lived in NZ for a year, as an exchange student. My host sister's name was Lisa, but very often I would hear people say something like Leaser.

I also had a friend there named Erin. I would pronounce it the same as Aaron. Erin, to them, was more of an Ear-rin type of sound.

I laughed at the Kiwi "Erin" pronunciation. That's spot on, though not how Aussies say it. Did you eat a lot of fush and chups (in your jandals) when you were living there?

 

[Chewbacca]

All of these pronunciation things you're mentioning are Australian/English as well. Especially using the /r/ to transition between two vowels. It makes me laugh because a common place I notice it is if someone is saying "America." I.e.: I just saw a program about Americerrrron tv.

One that I had to TRY to pronounce differently, and can if I focus, is Aaron versus Erin. At home both were pronounced Air-in. Here, Aaron is pronounced Ah(the noise that 'at' starts with)-rin. It still sounds off when I say Aaron because I have to FORCE my mouth in the right shape (sometimes I just say, "the boy version of Erin"). This is also the difference in sound between merry and marry. I would pronounce both as mare-eee. But in Australia, that's merry, while marry is Mah(again the same a sound as 'at')-ree.

This made me laugh. I lived in NZ for a year, as an exchange student. My host sister's name was Lisa, but very often I would hear people say something like Leaser.

I also had a friend there named Erin. I would pronounce it the same as Aaron. Erin, to them, was more of an Ear-rin type of sound.

I laughed at the Kiwi "Erin" pronunciation. That's spot on, though not how Aussies say it. Did you eat a lot of fush and chups (in your jandals) when you were living there?

While you Aussies are eating your feesh and cheeps in your thongs (on your feet, not up your bum)?

 

[justginger]

All of these pronunciation things you're mentioning are Australian/English as well. Especially using the /r/ to transition between two vowels. It makes me laugh because a common place I notice it is if someone is saying "America." I.e.: I just saw a program about Americerrrron tv.

One that I had to TRY to pronounce differently, and can if I focus, is Aaron versus Erin. At home both were pronounced Air-in. Here, Aaron is pronounced Ah(the noise that 'at' starts with)-rin. It still sounds off when I say Aaron because I have to FORCE my mouth in the right shape (sometimes I just say, "the boy version of Erin"). This is also the difference in sound between merry and marry. I would pronounce both as mare-eee. But in Australia, that's merry, while marry is Mah(again the same a sound as 'at')-ree.

This made me laugh. I lived in NZ for a year, as an exchange student. My host sister's name was Lisa, but very often I would hear people say something like Leaser.

I also had a friend there named Erin. I would pronounce it the same as Aaron. Erin, to them, was more of an Ear-rin type of sound.

I laughed at the Kiwi "Erin" pronunciation. That's spot on, though not how Aussies say it. Did you eat a lot of fush and chups (in your jandals) when you were living there?

While you Aussies are eating your feesh and cheeps in your thongs (on your feet, not up your bum)?

Lol. Does "feesh" sound like "feet"? I can't think how to type out how we say it phonetically, but it's like the Americans do. So it must be right.

 

[zoebartlett]

I love how accents and dialects can differ even in the same region. I'm from New England and have lived here most of my life. My husband and my in-laws have as well (we're all from the same state). I don't have an accent and neither does my husband. His parents have really strong accents though, which I find kind of funny. How could only some of us have them while others in the same family don't?

 

[zoebartlett]

Ugh, the pronunciation of "aunt" bugs me. Everyone I know practically says it like they say "ant." I do too, most of the time, but then sometimes I get stuck because of the /au/. It stresses me out.

Oh, and the Boston accent(s) drives me nuts. To me, there's two of them. There's the one I call the JFK accent because of how he spoke, and then there's the other one, the rougher South Boston (?) accent. The JFK accent sounds more refined. Am I the only one who hears two distinct Boston accents?

 

[Chewbacca]

Lol. Does "feesh" sound like "feet"? I can't think how to type out how we say it phonetically, but it's like the Americans do. So it must be right.

Yes, but Aussies with strong accents do it with that godawful twang! Oh the horror!

 

[Smith1942]

I'm British so pin and pen sound completely different to me. Pin is an "ih" sound like "inn" and pen is an "eh" sound like "egg". They do sound very different in American English though. At a pilates class once, the teacher said to put the bands in the bins at the end of class, and all I heard was to put the byans in the byans!

 

[Smith1942]

Zoe, I moved to Boston five years ago from London. There absolutely are two VERY different Boston accents.

I've got another one: I watched Sex and the City for years in England, with the wonderful main character, Kerry. I had a flatmate called Kerry, and have known a fair few other people with that name too. So imagine my surprise when Kerry loses her gold name necklace in the last-ever episode, and it turns out her name is Carrie! For me Kerry has an "eh" sound, like "egg", and Carrie has a definite "ah" sound, like "apple".

 

[Smith1942]

And another one! I cannot tell in the States if people are saying "can " or "can't" unless their "t" at the end is really crisp.

In America, they're both an "eeah" sound, but for me, "can" has an "a" like apple, and "can't" is "cahhhhhnt". In British English they're really different sounds, but there's not much difference here so I keep having to say to people, "Are you saying that you can or cannot do that?"

 

[Smith1942]

And another one! You've really started me off The soft D sounds here mean I sometimes can't understand what is meant. For instance, if someone says they've been writing, I don't know if they've been sitting down with a pen and paper or riding a horse. "Writing" and "riding" sound almost identical. Living over here has really made me realise how incredibly crisp British "t" sounds are when placed in the middle of a word. For example, "meeting" sounds like "meeding" and "British" sounds like "Briddish". But when we say the words, there is a very pronounced "t" sound in the middle. I think the crisp "t" acts as a good audio marker and I find it easier to understand.

 

[jstarfireb]

Pin and Pen sound completely different to me as well (pin rhymes with win or tin, and pen rhymes with men or ten).

However, Mary/merry/marry are identical to me, as are Aaron and Erin. I can hear the difference when others pronounce them differently, but I pronounce them all the same way.

And aunt rhymes with taunt or jaunt and certainly doesn't sound like an insect!

I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, and unless you count the PA "Dutch" (Deutsch) accent, I don't think we Pennsylvanians have much of an accent at all. At least not a recognizable one like Boston, New York, the South, etc.

 

[zoebartlett]

And another one! You've really started me off The soft D sounds here mean I sometimes can't understand what is meant. For instance, if someone says they've been writing, I don't know if they've been sitting down with a pen and paper or riding a horse. "Writing" and "riding" sound almost identical. Living over here has really made me realise how incredibly crisp British "t" sounds are when placed in the middle of a word. For example, "meeting" sounds like "meeding" and "British" sounds like "Briddish". But when we say the words, there is a very pronounced "t" sound in the middle. I think the crisp "t" acts as a good audio marker and I find it easier to understand.

I laughed at this because it's so true.

I had a roommate in college who is from MA. She pronounced "potato" as "poh-day-doe." Drove me crazy.

 

[GlamMosher]

Yes, but Aussies with strong accents do it with that godawful twang! Oh the horror!

Oh let's not go there...

 

[JewelFreak]

And another one! You've really started me off The soft D sounds here mean I sometimes can't understand what is meant. For instance, if someone says they've been writing, I don't know if they've been sitting down with a pen and paper or riding a horse. "Writing" and "riding" sound almost identical. Living over here has really made me realise how incredibly crisp British "t" sounds are when placed in the middle of a word. For example, "meeting" sounds like "meeding" and "British" sounds like "Briddish". But when we say the words, there is a very pronounced "t" sound in the middle. I think the crisp "t" acts as a good audio marker and I find it easier to understand.

That's very true; I hadn't thought of it like that! I spent a lot of time in the UK over about 8 years & my American English sounded awfully sloppy to me compared with how the Brits speak. Your words start & end cleanly too, while ours kind of ooze to a finish.

DH && I get into weird conversations. He is Dutch & his English pronunciation can be a little misleading. Dutch does not have a 'th" sound, so he says it the same as a very soft 't' and his short 'e' and short 'a' are identical. Last night my back spasmed & I was in agony. "You bought a fancy bath, after all," (I thought) he said. So I go into a long explanation about the jets not being in the right place to ease back pain, otherwise I'd be in it all day, blah blah and blah. "Huh?" he looked blank. It was my latex foam BED he mentioned. Of course that started a riff on beds with afterburners & mach speed, on & on. But he pronounces "bed" and "bath" almost exactly alike!

--- Laurie

 

[madelise]

Here in the Boston area...all bets are off!

"I left my c-a-h keys in my k-h-a-k-i-s."

"aahnt" = "aunt."

I think of you today, MB! http://imgur.com/FYoyJ

 

[Smith1942]

And another one! You've really started me off The soft D sounds here mean I sometimes can't understand what is meant. For instance, if someone says they've been writing, I don't know if they've been sitting down with a pen and paper or riding a horse. "Writing" and "riding" sound almost identical. Living over here has really made me realise how incredibly crisp British "t" sounds are when placed in the middle of a word. For example, "meeting" sounds like "meeding" and "British" sounds like "Briddish". But when we say the words, there is a very pronounced "t" sound in the middle. I think the crisp "t" acts as a good audio marker and I find it easier to understand.

I laughed at this because it's so true.

I had a roommate in college who is from MA. She pronounced "potato" as "poh-day-doe." Drove me crazy.

Oh, this is so interesting! Are you telling me that the soft "d" sound is specifically a Massachusetts thing? I hope so because it drives me crazy too! I'd feel so much better knowing it wasn't all over the States!

 

[zoebartlett]

I don't think it's a regional thing. It might have been just how she chose to pronounce the word. I've never heard anyone else say that.

 

[justginger]

Here in the Boston area...all bets are off!

"I left my c-a-h keys in my k-h-a-k-i-s."

"aahnt" = "aunt."

I think of you today, MB! http://imgur.com/FYoyJ

DH pronounces them "kaaaah-keys" as well. I'm forever going, "KA! KA-keys!"

 

[Chewbacca]

Yes, but Aussies with strong accents do it with that godawful twang! Oh the horror!

Oh let's not go there...

When our NZ and Australian family members get together we just have to tease each others accents!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1cOn5vGc4

 

[GlamMosher]

I see your "Brit" and raise you one "Beached Whale". Kept Aussies amused for months! We still quote it - " have you got a buckit or a hewse? I need to git wit eesep".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA

My brother in law lived in NZ for a few years and still laughs about being directed to the chicken counter at the airport.

 

[justginger]

I see your "Brit" and raise you one "Beached Whale". Kept Aussies amused for months! We still quote it - " have you got a buckit or a hewse? I need to git wit eesep".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA

My brother in law lived in NZ for a few years and still laughs about being directed to the chicken counter at the airport.

Bloody hilarious, I love Kiwi accents. Whenever we have a big meal, DH and I always mumble that we're "beached as, brew."

 

[chrono]

Although I'm now in the US, the accent still gets me every time. I don't understand how flour sounds like flower to my ears.