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I knew the correct pronunciation for all the words on the list, however I always thought that the pronunciation of "often" was regional, or even cultural. If there are any Brits on this forum, can you tell us how it's most "often" pronounced in your neck of the woods? And is it "class" based? I'm currently watching "Upstairs Downstairs" and will try to pay more attention to see if and how they pronounce it.
I knew the correct pronunciation for all the words on the list, however I always thought that the pronunciation of "often" was regional, or even cultural.
According to the Big Bang Theory TV show, pronouncing the T in "often" is not condoned by über-persnickety Sheldon! (the ep where he was going to move out because he had trouble keeping a secret)
According to the Big Bang Theory TV show, pronouncing the T in "often" is not condoned by über-persnickety Sheldon! (the ep where he was going to move out because he had trouble keeping a secret)
Well that settles it then. If Sheldon does not condone it, then so must I. I love that show!
Still, as I watch Upstairs Downstairs ( now on season 3, episode 4, after the Titanic disaster) I'll be watching to see how both levels of the house pronounce it. I must say, it's rather distracting me from the actual episodes!
... it turns out Sherbet is the only one that would make people think I'm an idiot, and that's only SOMETIMES, because I usually just say Sherbet now. However, I want to research this a little further. The spelling without the "R" seems to me to be more recent. I recall being corrected as to my pronounciation and told that the second "R" is silent--but it was always there in print.
From the language experts at the place where the cows could cross the river Thames (i.e. Ox-ford):
"Sherbet
...
Origin:
early 17th century: from Turkish şerbet, Persian šerbet, from Arabic šarba 'drink', from šariba 'to drink'. Compare with 'syrup'.
The tendency to insert an r into the second syllable of sherbet is common; the misspelling sherbert accounts for around a quarter of the citations for the word in the Oxford English Corpus."
Well, I'm relieved. I prefer "sherbet" as the pronounciation, but I always felt as if I was saying it wrong because when I was growing up, most people said "sherbert" and that's how it was most commonly spelled. Glad it's settled!
I love Turkey Hill fruit sherbet. It has lime, raspberry, and orange.
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