Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#209504 02/11/13 05:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1
J
Joel Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
J
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1
When one of my sons moved to Knoxville, TN, I helped him with a home project. We ran into the need for a tool we didn't have. Said John, "I'll just pick one up at Mart." "Don't you mean, "K-Mart"?" I asked. "No, Dad," he said. "In Knoxville, the "k" is silent."

Joel #209508 02/11/13 06:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Neat story.
Welcome.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joel #209523 02/12/13 02:03 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
heh


welcome!


formerly known as etaoin...
Joel #209548 02/12/13 07:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
I've been keeping a list of words with silent letters. I'd love to find a silent word with a j in it. J's the only letter that won't shut up. Please let me know if you come up with one.

Joel #209551 02/12/13 11:20 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
A principal I had in high school had the last name of
Labaj, pronounced Lah-bi. J was silent.

That's a neat site. Thanks.


But it did influence the second syllable, I suppose, like in hai jalai.

Last edited by LukeJavan8; 02/12/13 11:25 PM.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Beggars can't be choosers. Thanks!

danslos #209555 02/13/13 06:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Hey I've not given up, stick with us.

I had a classmate with last name of Stejskal (Stays-cal).
But again the 'j' in whatever language the name is, may
influence the pronunciation.

In your list you have "half", but not the verb "halve".

Last edited by LukeJavan8; 02/13/13 06:16 PM.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Joel #209557 02/13/13 08:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Thanks for "halve"! If you find any more that I missed, please let me know.

While searching the web for words-with-silent-letters, I often come across folks who claim that j is silent in words like "jalapeņo" or "fajita." As in the name "Stejskal," though, I think it's just that you pronounce j differently in different languages. I'm still looking for the j that disappears completely.

-Daniel

danslos #209558 02/13/13 09:43 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
I'll look too, and hope I remember the thread here.
Maybe someone else is looking as well, and will post.


----please, draw me a sheep----
danslos #209560 02/14/13 12:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Originally Posted By: danslos
I often come across folks who claim that j is silent in words like "jalapeņo" or "fajita."


That's just silly. You're right, it's just pronounced different.

Joel #209561 02/14/13 02:00 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
heh


formerly known as etaoin...
Joel #209572 02/14/13 05:02 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
After going through Raymond Long's Elements of English: Silent Letters, I added a bunch more words to my words with silent letters spreadsheet. Some of the additions are questionable, but many aren't. I'm amazed how many I missed.

danslos #209573 02/14/13 05:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
I don't have time to check, but do you have the
numberable 'ough's?

cough
dough
doughty
through
though
slough
sough
bough
plough
hough

and I've forgotten at least two of the nine+ pronunciations
involved with 'ough'.(that I know of)

Last edited by LukeJavan8; 02/14/13 05:24 PM.

----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
I have a few of them. I'll check when I have more time later on.

danslos #209576 02/15/13 01:04 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
It's the B not the D that's silent in bdellium.

Faldage #209579 02/15/13 01:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Thanks for pointing that out. Made the change.

Joel #209581 02/15/13 04:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3
W
stranger
Offline
stranger
W
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3
I'm reminded of my choral society director years ago. He cautioned us that we should sing "psalm" as in English, not Latin. The "p" was to be silent as in "swimming".

Last edited by wgstoops; 02/15/13 04:39 PM. Reason: spelling error

WGS
wgstoops #209583 02/15/13 05:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
I received a stern warning from a teacher
when I insisted on using the "p" in pneumonia,
which my brother was afflicted with, and still
kept using it. She was unhappy, very, with me.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,317
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 583 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,534
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5