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
#27277 04/25/01 09:08 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
I was just watching TV (forgive me b96, I know what I do) and two characters in the programme pronounced "salve" as "sav" Is this US standard, or a Jersey corruption?


#27278 04/25/01 10:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
I've certainly heard it that way on US shows , but I've never actually said the word so I can't say how I'd say it. It's not a terribly common word, especially spoken.

How would you say it?

#27279 04/25/01 12:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
silent L is the only way i have ever heard it--


#27280 04/25/01 01:15 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Silent "L" with a looong "A" is how I hear it in my neighborhood ... Northeast US. When I do try out the word with an L in it I get odd looks but it's understood.
Friends usually look at me and say "Oh, puh-leese!"
wow


#27281 04/25/01 01:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
N
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
N
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
"sahv" is the traditional pronunciation. The "salv" is a recent innovation in UK/ANZ, by false association with the root of salvage. But I imagine it's universal now, outside US.


#27282 04/25/01 01:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
salve1 (sav, säv)
n.
5ME < OE sealf, akin to Ger salbe < IE base *selp3, fat, butter > Sans sarpis3, melted butter6
1 any medicinal ointment applied to wounds, skin irritations, burns, etc.

But if an automobile tire needed a "valve" I would not ask for a "vav"!



#27283 04/25/01 01:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
If akin to 'die Salbe' (i.e. ointment, cream), then it ought to be pronounced as it's written. Next people will be driving a Vovo home.


#27284 04/25/01 02:00 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609
R
addict
Offline
addict
R
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 609
I (and my mates) in UK prounounce Salve with a long "A" and with the "L" but running into the "V" rather than a separate sound. This is how I have always heard it. I bow to NicholasW's superior knowledge but the root (and some dictionaries) suggest to me that the "l" should be sounded.
salve \Salve\ (?; 277), n. [AS. sealf ointment; akin to LG. salwe, D. zalve, zalf, OHG. salba, Dan. salve, Sw. salfva, Goth. salb[=o]n to anoint, and probably to Gr. (Hesychius) ? oil, ? butter, Skr. sarpis clarified butter. [root]155, 291.] 1. An adhesive composition or substance to be applied to wounds or sores; a healing ointment. --Chaucer.

Rod


#27285 04/25/01 02:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Halve, calve, valve. Only the last halve I heard pronounced with the L.


#27286 04/25/01 03:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Next people will be driving a Vovo home.

Which would be an improvement. One must pronounce "Volvo" very carefully.



#27287 04/25/01 03:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
B
veteran
Offline
veteran
B
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
In reply to:

it ought to be pronounced as it's written


What, are you nuts? Since when did logic or 'ought to' enter into English pronunciation?


#27288 04/25/01 03:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
One must pronounce "Volvo" very carefully.

Yes indeed! I have afriend who teaches at the local agricultural college, whose favourite story at the moment s the exam answer of one of his students to the question, "How does a farmer know when his cow is ready for service by the bull?"
The answer given was, "When it has a red Volvo."

Thank goodness the Swedish car that I drive is white!


#27289 04/25/01 04:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
When (she) has a red Volvo she is ready for a Rolls in the hay. When it is white, Nova.


#27290 04/26/01 06:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
Re: What, are you nuts?
That's me, the nu'ta.


Speaking of things Nordic, did anyone catch that story about some guy in some remote part of Sweden whose Ford 'Ka' was mistaken for a mate by a moose on heat; when the car didn't respond the he moose-handled it and concluded by defecating on it. The poor man has no garage and the forest over the road


Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,350
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 (), 773 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,549
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,918
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