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#83784 10/18/02 03:40 PM
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ets Offline OP
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My pet peeve metaplasm is Feb-uary. Does anyone (including announcers on NPR) pronounce the first r in February any more? One person I noted this to told me the r was silent (!). But then, I live in New England where a lot of r's are silent.


#83785 10/18/02 04:04 PM
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Dear ets: Many if not most New Englander simply have difficulty making the "r" sound.
In spite of my youthful recitations of "Round and round the rugged rock the ragged
rascal ran" I simply cannot trill "r"s the way other regional speakers can.
Man spricht wie der Schnabel gewachsen ist. But to say the "r" is silent is stupid.


#83786 10/19/02 02:40 AM
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Hello, ets.

When I was growing up in Michigan, I always heard the second month pronounced "Febuary," but upon learning the spelling, I altered my own pronunciation, and now articulate it as "February." So, there is at least one other person who still says the first r.


#83787 10/19/02 05:06 AM
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Noo-cu-ler, anyone?


#83788 10/19/02 10:02 AM
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I was taught that the "r" in February should be enunciated. And so I did. Just as I'd been taught that the first "r" in library should be enunciated.

What's interesting is, in contrast to small children, nearly every adult I hear does enunciate that library "r," but rare is the one who enunciates the "February" one. We appear to remain children in our lip laziness associated with the second month. Wonder why?


#83789 10/19/02 11:11 AM
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Hardly anyone pronounces the -us at the end of February any more.


#83790 10/19/02 11:23 AM
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In reply to:

Hardly anyone pronounces the -us at the end of February any more.


OK, Faldage. I'll bite. What's the joke? What haven't I read -- still again as always -- that you have read?

Beat regards,
WW


#83791 10/19/02 11:33 AM
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Just a wry* comment on the inability of some of y'all to appreciate the pleasure of hearing linguistic change happening before your very ears.

*Well I thought it was wry.


#83792 10/19/02 01:00 PM
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Thank you, Faldage.

Sorry I have to ask you to explain these things all the time, but I hate missing your wryness.

Best relief,
WW


#83793 10/19/02 07:41 PM
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On the subject of metaplasms in general, my favorites are vomick for vomit, and nauserated for nauseated.


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