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#94678 02/06/03 02:43 AM
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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?


#94679 02/06/03 03:47 AM
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Does anybody pronounce the "a" in temperamental or temperament anymore?

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


#94680 02/06/03 04:18 AM
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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.


#94681 02/06/03 04:22 AM
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In reply to:

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


Pique-y pique-y

Bingley



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#94682 02/06/03 08:54 AM
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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


#94683 02/06/03 10:58 AM
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However, I have to write it with the "a", of course, or it's incorrect.

That ever stopped you before? [duck]


#94684 02/06/03 11:20 AM
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Though admittedly it's more like temp'ramental.

Yes, here too.


#94685 02/06/03 01:07 PM
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Though admittedly it's more like temp'ramental.

Yes, here too.


me, too.



formerly known as etaoin...
#94686 02/06/03 01:33 PM
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"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.


#94687 02/06/03 02:00 PM
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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!



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