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Two that have come to mind most recently involve more the SPOKEN word.
It irritates me to hear "professional speakers" pronounce the word introduce as if it was spelled inter-duce. The dictionary lists this as an alternate, acceptable pronunciation. But it still strikes me as wrong.
In a similar way I am upset when the word "envelope" (the noun, not the verb) is pronounced as though its spelling were: on-velope.
Am I overly-sensitive? Does this strike anyone else? (Should someone else strike me?!)
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
Am I overly-sensitive?
Yes.
It irritates me to hear "professional speakers" pronounce the word introduce as if it was spelled inter-duce. The dictionary lists this as an alternate, acceptable pronunciation. But it still strikes me as wrong.
It's called metathesis and it's why we say things like "bird" instead of the correct "brid" and "third" instead of "thrid". It's a normal process of linguistic change.
Thank you for teaching me something new today.
Your link reminded me that 'modren' is another mispronunciation I often hear that stikes a nerve. Similar is, "westren".
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
formerly known as etaoin...
But then, I am old.
There is a vast difference between "let me introduce the audience to Joe Schmo" and let me introduce Joe Schmo to the audience." Most of the time the speaker will use the former phrase when he or she really means the latter.
TEd
Anyway--I do think "professional" speakers (and Presidents) ought to at least bother to pronounce things correctly (er, as in not saying interduce--I don't mean regional differences such as INsurance vs. inSURance). As to envelope--I thought if you said the first syllable as on, it was just a sort-of French pronunciation, as in en garde.
I have had issue, too, with the misuse of the phrase "holed up".
Newscasters describing a fugitive who has hidden himself, will be said to me "held up".
That brings up a question. I have never been quite certain about the phrase "all told". Is it TOLD (as in the tale has been related)?
Or is it TOLLED (as the tally has been completed)?
Thanks for any ideas.
"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world" -Michael Crichton
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