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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread on un #39195 08/23/2001 12:08 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 Sparteye Pooh-Bah Sparteye Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 I have noticed that some people pronounce the prefix "un" as if it were "on." An advertisement on the radio will inform me that I can buy the Super-Matic Chomatron 3000 at onbelievable savings, and for this week only I can also purchase the extended warranty to obtain onsurpassed service after the sale. I have never heard "on" for "un" spoken by a local in Michigan or Ohio, and am wondering from what areas of the country I can surmise such a speaker comes. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: on un #39196 08/23/2001 10:53 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,156 Bean old hand Bean old hand Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,156 It wouldn't sound awkward in Newfoundland, but I doubt if that's where your commercial voice comes from. They do all the vowels a bit different here. A Newfoundlander saying that would also stretch out the word. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: on un #39197 08/23/2001 11:35 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 I've heard that pronunciation from a fellow from the outskirts of Chicago. FTR, the Old English was on- and the on'ry in John Jacob Niles's lovely falsetto rendition of the song I Wonder as I Wander is unworthy not ornery. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: on un #39198 08/23/2001 2:54 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 218 Mountain West, USA Brandon enthusiast Brandon enthusiast Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 218 Mountain West, USA Maybe it is an intentional mispronunciation as a marketing ploy. A small cafe in my neighborhood recently displayed a sign advertising flotes. The elementary school across the street politely asked they correct the misspelling. No go, said the cafe. If it is indeed a marketing ploy, it's surely worked. We've all been exposed, and who knows how many others are talking to their linguaphile friends about the ad. Copy Link to Clipboard Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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