Wordsmith.org
Posted By: shanks Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 03:16 PM
Hi all

Did a quick search and didn't find anything that related to this, so thought I'd ask.

Is there a consensus, or pattern of opinion on the pronunciation of 'proven'.

I have a friend who favours "proov'n". I favour "prove'n". My dictionary (albeit only Encarta), lists both.

Any opinions?

cheer

the sunshine warrior

Posted By: tsuwm Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 03:37 PM
how do you pronounce 'prove' then?

Posted By: Jackie Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 03:37 PM
I favour "prove'n". (Mmm, it is SO nice to have you posting again!!! <GRIN>) Do you mean that the o has the same sound as in oh? Oh, no! It's oo. As in coo.

Posted By: shanks Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 05:50 PM
'Prove', the word = proov.

But in "prove'n", the sound was meant to rhyme with 'grove'. Apologies for the ambiguity.

Posted By: Faldage Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 06:36 PM
Proovn, definitely proovn.

Posted By: sjmaxq Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 07:53 PM
Sorry, shanks, but it's definitely proovn up here too. If I here p-roe-vn, I think of Ole Blighted, especially public school twits.

Posted By: AnnaStrophic Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 10:10 PM
But in "prove'n", the sound was meant to rhyme with 'grove'.

Has anyone looked this up?

Posted By: tsuwm Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 10:28 PM
Pronunciation: prüv
Inflected Form(s): proved; proved \-vd\; or prov·en \-vn\;
©W3

IOW, the US standard for inflected forms just adds an unstressed syllable to proov.

Posted By: maverick Re: Pronunciation query - 09/25/03 10:29 PM
Great to hear you're back, Shanks - welcome, mate.

Definitely /proov'n/ for me, too, with a vague feeling of recognition in what my updownside bro said about the crust of the blighted uppers... but we allus knew you were secretly a nob ;)

Posted By: sjmaxq Re: Pronunciation query - 09/26/03 01:52 AM
>but we allus knew you were secretly a nob ;)


Don't you mean nabob? Or should he bring his Mum by?

Posted By: shanks Bother. Likewise blow. - 09/26/03 08:39 AM
So there go my chances of impressing hoi polloi with my working class cred. Damn you Billy Bragg for giving me hope!

cheer

the sunshine "definitely looking for a new England" warrior

Posted By: dxb Re: Pronunciation query - 09/26/03 09:35 AM
In Scottish law there is a three verdict system; 'guilty', 'not guilty' and 'not proven'. In this case the word always seems to be pronounced as proven, not as prooven.

In case of interest, here is a link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/faq/notprov.asp

Posted By: Capfka Re: Pronunciation query - 09/27/03 09:15 PM
Well, I never had a public school eddication, but I've always pronounced it as prov/n. My better half, the one with the law degree, disagrees with me and agrees with the pruv/n school. So there's nothing new there, then.

Oh, and welcome back, Shanks. It's been a long time since I saw a post from you.

© Wordsmith.org