Does anybody pronounce the "a" in temperamental or temperament anymore? I know the "a" is there, and my mind sees it when I say it, but I always say tempermental or temperment. However, I have to write it with the "a", of course, or it's incorrect. Is this then an injustice to the natural evolution of language if the written "a" is required if most people don't pronounce it anymore? What can move a lexiconographer to change a standard spelling to a new, more widely-used, usage?

Does anybody pronounce the "a" in temperamental or temperament anymore?

Anybody in Oz does. Though admittedly it's more like temp'ramental.

Acutally, doc, now that you mention it, it seems that when I first started droppimg the syllable I was saying tem-PRA-mental...but then it quickly migrated to tem-PER-mental...just easier to say, I guess.

In reply to:

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I have to write it with the "a", of course, or it's incorrect.

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Pique-y pique-y

Bingley

Dear Juan,

I say "tempermental"--but I'll change if need be.

For a long time I said, "Febuary" till I realized I really should enunciate the "r" in "ru". Changes are easy.

Will go check Onelook now to see whether I should be enunciating the "a" in temperamental.

Flexibly yours,
WW

However, I have to write it with the "a", of course, or it's incorrect.

That ever stopped you before? [duck]

Though admittedly it's more like temp'ramental.

Yes, here too.

Though admittedly it's more like temp'ramental.

Yes, here too.

me, too.

"Is this then an injustice to the natural evolution of language if the written "a" is required if most people don't pronounce it anymore?"

I adhere to the tempramental school, myself, dropping the e before the r.

But in response to your other question, since when do we spell English the way it sounds? And according to which regional accent? I've always thought it would be a disservice to the natural evolution of a language to hide its past by making the spelling more acceptable to contemporary sensibilities. I like the fact that English wears its history on its sleeve. Do you realize how few people even know English HAS sleeves?

Of course, I'm being completely self-indulgent here. I LIKE being able to look at a word and see centuries of history. It not only keeps me entertained, but it prevents people from casually asking me questions about words because they're afraid I will actually answer them.

I LIKE being able to look at a word and see centuries of history. It not only keeps me entertained, but it prevents people from casually asking me questions about words because they're afraid I will actually answer them. !!! I think I love you!

"!!! I think I love you!"

But we've got to stop meeting like this. People are starting to talk.

My daughter, Maria, told me last night about how she and one of her friends were having some discussion about some topic to do with words, and Diane said, "You could ask your mom, but she'd probably tell you more than you wanted to know." Maria agreed, then confessed she might actually want to know most of it. Diane suggested she might like to be there herself when Maria asked me whatever it was.

I have a fan club. Watch my ego expand to fill my entire cubicle.

And what about a new acronym: YCAYM- You Could Ask Your Mom.

People with skulls filled with tempera are temperamental. So the "a" must be pronounced.
tempera
n.
5It < temperare < L: see prec.6
1 a) a process of painting in which pigments are mixed with size, casein, or egg, esp. egg yolk, to produce a dull finish b) the paint used in this process
2 POSTER COLOR

People with skulls filled with tempera are temperamental. So the "a" must be pronounced.
tempera

So are people whose skulls are filled with tempura edible? I know, I know, tempura is an outer shell, but

I'm afraid the yolk's on you.

Here's a curious pronunciation scheme from MW online:

"Pronunciation: "tem-p(&-)r&-'men-t&l, "tem-p&r-'"

Now, this supports those of you who say "tem-pruh-MEN-t&l..
but what does the second scheme mean? Tem-per...MEN-t&l?

Neither of those offered seems to enunciate the "a" following "temper"...

...but I could be read those &s incorrectly. Help, please.

Edit Addition:

And here's from AHD online:

"tmpr-mntl, tmpr--"

Well, that didn't copy out correctly because AHD agreed with MW's first pronunciation, but the second one showed enunciation of the "a" in question.

I was thinking about this while walking the dog on the beach Before, and I kept trying to say temperamental, specifically pronouncing the "a"...but one way or the other, and no matter how consciously and deliberately your effort, it just doesn't want to be there as a separate syllable, it seems to naturally blend away into the word, and is very elusive. Try it.

Dear WO'N: I hereby issue you a citation for walking your dog on the beach. Dog doo-doo
may contain hookworm eggs which can incubate in warm sand, and have larvae penetrate
skin of recumbent sunbathers, causing an itching dermatitis. Of course I jest. but the
llast time I was in Florida there were posted warnings on the beaches.

I'm afraid the yolk's on you.

Ohhh, TEd...don't be so tempuramental.

Dear WO'N: I hereby issue you a citation for walking your dog on the beach.

Dear Dr. Bill:

"Signs, signs, everywhere a sign!..."

NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Memorial Day thru Labor Day

Otherwise, it's A-OK! And we have pooper-scooper laws which I respect. most of the time