British and American pronunciation (vs, moving, garage)

[backtotx]

This afternoon an American friend of mine said 'apricot' pronouncing it a-pricot. Us Brits pronouce it ay-pricot but we say ap-titude and not ayp-titude. No wonder people have difficulty learning our language, we seem to go against our own rules of pronounciation, even pronounciation is mis-pronounced all the time.

[backdrifter]

I've never heard anyone say "ayp-titude" before. Personally, "a-pricot" is one of those mispronunciations that really gets my goat.

[chilaili]

AluminUM bugs the heck out of me!

Plus
GarAGE vs GARage
and
ADDress vs AddRESS

[RH1]

Originally Posted by backtotx

This afternoon an American friend of mine said 'apricot' pronouncing it a-pricot. Us Brits pronouce it ay-pricot but we say ap-titude and not ayp-titude. No wonder people have difficulty learning our language, we seem to go against our own rules of pronounciation, even pronounciation is mis-pronounced all the time.

Yeah it's full of little inconsistencies isn't it? There are so many pronunciation differences between the US and UK - oregano is another one isn't it? You say orEga-no, we say ori-gARno. Tomaydo, tomardo, potaydo, potardo, let's call the whole thing off...

Incidentally, ayp-titude is a quality that talented monkeys have.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by chilaili

AluminUM bugs the heck out of me!

Plus
GarAGE vs GARage
and
ADDress vs AddRESS

Kinda weird and I'd never thought about it before but I've always addRESSED my letters with my ADDress. The second stress you show I use as a verb whereas the first is a noun. I suppose it's a regional thing I learned.

[RH1]

Originally Posted by chilaili

AluminUM

Is that right? I thought it was alUminum in the states? There's a thread somewhere else where someone explained the origin. Apparently it was universally called aluminum at one point but the guy who named it kept changing his mind between that and AlumInium and both got used.

[Debsi]

Originally Posted by backtotx

This afternoon an American friend of mine said 'apricot' pronouncing it a-pricot. Us Brits pronouce it ay-pricot but we say ap-titude and not ayp-titude. No wonder people have difficulty learning our language, we seem to go against our own rules of pronounciation, even pronounciation is mis-pronounced all the time.

I've always said ay - pricot and I'm American.

[backtotx]

RH1 - thought ayp-titude and talented monkeys was very funny. Tried to add to your rep but it said I had to spread some reps around before giving it to you again!!!!

[backtotx]

Debsi - does it matter where in the US you are from then? My American friend is originally from Wisconsion. Maybe it is different there. I'm moving down to your area over the summer I shall have to ask folk to pronounce things!!

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Debsi

I've always said ay - pricot and I'm American.

That's how I and most people I know say it also. I'd image the short a version is fairly restricted to specific regions but I can't say with any certainty.