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Original Message
"Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-11-06 at 11:41 PM
Mainly speaking them, but writing them also.

I, for example, have a hard time saying the word "memorial." Part of that is because I, as a Bawlamoron, have a tendency to slur some words. It just doesn't feel right to have those two M's back to back. So I have to force myself to overpronounce it.

And for the longest time, I thought "similar" had three I's.

What words get you tongue-tied or spelling-challenged?


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

Table of contents
Messages in this discussion
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Spanky68 on 04-11-06 at 11:46 PM
No matter how slowly I say it rural always comes out so slurred, you'd think I was drunk. It makes it tough to lecture about the tensions between rural and urban parts of the state when I am doing local governments and budgets in class.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 00:11 AM
That's tough for me too. Try saying "Rural Road" in a traffic report sometime.


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mom2bjm on 04-12-06 at 12:55 PM
When I first moved to the Phoenix area, and someone tried to tell me to drive to Rual road - I couldn't figure out WHAT THE HECK they were talking about. It seems many here pronounce Rural Road as RUAL road. Sheesh!

And then there are those who say Ree-la-tor instead of Reel-tor.
Double Sheesh!



Another fabulous Siggie from Cyg!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Spanky68 on 04-12-06 at 07:45 PM
Barbarians!!!


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 00:03 AM
I heard a word on SO today and thought, "Surely that can't be a word!" So I looked it up and sure enough, there it was - POSITIVITY! It sounded funny when I heard it and it sounded funny when I said it. I don't think I will ever be using that word.

A word that I have trouble with is "statistics." So when I think I'm sounding pretty intelligent in a conversation and want to say something about what the statistics show, I get all tongue-tied and sound really stupid.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 00:12 AM
Do you ever wind up saying, "sadistics?"


I may have done that.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 01:39 AM
No, but that would be funny.

It usually comes out more like 'stastistics." And the harder I try to fix it the worse it comes out. Sad, huh.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by dabo on 04-12-06 at 00:18 AM
Pabulum almost always throws me.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by weltek on 04-12-06 at 10:30 AM
Yeah, and like, we say that at least five times/day.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by frisky on 04-12-06 at 00:37 AM
I have trouble with "conscience" and "consious." Did I spell them right? I can't even spell them. I suck.

I hate to hear people say they are "goal orientated." That bugs me.


Rolly made this.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by tribephyl on 04-12-06 at 04:53 AM
I have trouble with "conscience" and "consious."
Me too...

I usually resort to lengthening the sentence to include "the little voice in my head that says..." or "my lucid state of mind..."

That, and for some reason evry time I write evrybody or evrything or evrywhere. I always miss the extra e. Evry fricken' time.

Maybe if it was added to the lexicon of OT. Like lvoe or thresd. I'd feel better about making the mistake.

Nah, I'd probably start typing it correctly and then have to take out the extra e every time.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by nailbone on 04-12-06 at 02:05 PM
Conscious.

Your welcome.


Sig by Arkie!!

Holey carp! My blog! MySpace!
Official OT Tassel Adjuster o-
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Hoobie on 04-12-06 at 07:23 PM
Ohh, another one like that is when people say they "conversated". GRRRRR...

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Ante Bellum on 04-12-06 at 00:38 AM
Thankfully my accent is non-existent and I don't have any consistent spelling challenges. Typographic errors I have.


Handcrafted by RollDdice

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by bystander on 04-12-06 at 08:00 AM
I spell weird wierd sometimes.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mom2bjm on 04-12-06 at 01:04 PM

I do too. Unless my spellcheck changes it for me!!


Another fabulous Siggie from Cyg!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by AZ_Leo on 04-13-06 at 09:35 PM
That's probably not your fault. Everytime I come to a word like that my brain automatically recites "I before E except after C" then I remember that weird is one of the exceptions created by grade school teachers to trip you up on the spelling test.
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Ante Bellum on 04-12-06 at 00:56 AM
I must know. How does one say or spell similar with three `i`s?


Handcrafted by RollDdice

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Puffy on 04-12-06 at 01:14 AM
similiar = 3 i's



©Syren Creations, 2005


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 01:42 AM
I get tickled when I hear people pronounce this word with a "u" in it as in "sim-you-lar."

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"Oh, by the way . . ."
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 09:52 AM
Has everyone met Sharnina? She's one of our SO peeps who's come out to play.


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by weltek on 04-12-06 at 10:31 AM
Hi sharnina! Welcome to OT!

I hear you on people pronoucing it "simyoular"

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by byoffer on 04-12-06 at 11:25 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 11:26 AM (EST)

Yes, welcome Sharnina. Stay around. Have some fun. Just don't forget your waterwings in the deep end.

Adding an extra u is pretty common for us Canadians. But not for simyoular!


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-13-06 at 09:25 PM
Thanks! I think I've dived into the deep end a couple of times already and managed to stay afloat. But the marijuana thread just about kicked my butt. (Thanks, Syren, for saving me.)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Puffy on 04-12-06 at 01:18 AM

I have trouble saying "chaise lounge." I can't say the "chaise" part, but I guess the lounge part is spelled "longue."

chaise longue Pronunciation Key (shz lông)
n. pl. chaise longues or chaises longues (shz lông)
A reclining chair with a long seat that supports the outstretched legs.



©Syren Creations, 2005


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by bystander on 04-12-06 at 08:10 AM
Puffy, your smilie face is just too cheerful. You should have Tribe sinister it up a bit.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by dabo on 04-12-06 at 01:21 AM
Fenix.
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by AZ_Leo on 04-13-06 at 09:57 PM
At least we don't have to worry about everyone mispronouncing Tempe (it's tem-PEE) anymore since the Cardinals and the Fiesta Bowl are moving to Glendale. Make the sportscasters lives much easier.

FYI--Sedona was originally called Schnebley Station. I don't think it would have been quite the new age mecca if it hadn't changed it's name.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 01:45 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 01:52 AM (EST)

These words are not a problem for me probably because it is a pet peeve of mine.

There-a place
Their-possessive
They're-contraction for they are

These words are regularly used interchangeably by lots and lots of people but I have learned not to be annoyed by it.

ETA - Also, the use of "to" and "too."

to-"to be" or "going to a place"
too- means also "I want to go too. Or more than "There is too much focus on this subject."

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by dabo on 04-12-06 at 01:49 AM
their their
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 04:23 AM

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by aquariaqueen on 04-12-06 at 10:19 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 05:49 PM (EST)

I also am prudent with there, their and they're....

As far as "too", I try to use "also", or "as well".

I taught my sons if they were confused with the 2s, twos, tos, toos etc...

substitute too for quite or very
substitute to for as well and also.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by nailbone on 04-12-06 at 02:07 PM
than...then


Sig by Arkie!!
Holey carp! My blog! MySpace!
Official OT Tassel Adjuster o-
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-12-06 at 02:12 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 02:16 AM (EST)

Not me, but my sister. She still says pasghetti. And, she's in her 60's. She's never gotten that one right. I came along later and no one was going to allow pronunciation errors on my part.

My upbringing was so wired to pronunciation that adults would refuse to continue to converse with me if I confused ad-ver-tize-ment with ad-ver-tis-ment. As an adult (and probably as a sort of rebellion) I usually no longer differentiate between pronunciations depending upon written or verbal sales promotions. (Sometimes I forget to rebel & the proper one slips out.) It sure counted as a kid.

(I remember spending an entire summer afternoon looking at a sauce bottle and repeating "Worchestershire" properly until I could do it without thinking. Any wonder that I never use the stuff? )

I pronounce most words, even foreign words, without a problem. On the few occassions that I've mispronounced something and been called on it (even if I have no reason to have known the word) it's still a major source of inner humiliation, thanks to my younger experiences. But, in fairness, the training has stood me in good stead overall, and probably spared me even more public, vs. private, humiliation in the long run.

Phonics and an education in Latin and other foreign languages is not a bad thing. (Just really sucky when you're young. )


An Arkie curious cub
Edit 'cause I may be able to pronounce, but I can't always speel.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 09:44 AM
ad-ver-tize-ment with ad-ver-tis-ment - which is correct?


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Bobdechemist on 04-12-06 at 10:01 AM
According to my mother ad vertisment (With the first part pronounced like advert your eyes). That would be the British version. The other is American.


I learned to say ad

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Emily RugBurn on 04-12-06 at 10:07 AM
I believe both are correct/acceptable, but I think ad-ver-tis-ment is more the British pronunciation... ...I think.

I can't stand when people pronounce harassment "harris-mint" instead of "her-ass-mint". I know they're both acceptable, but "harris-mint" drives me bonkers!

~ EmRB

Generously handcrafted by the Amazing RollDdice; no relation to the Amazing Spider-Man.
Incessant Ramblings of a Cyber-delic Hippy

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Maroonclown on 04-12-06 at 10:19 AM
I can't stand when people pronounce harassment "harris-mint" instead of "her-#####-mint". I know they're both acceptable, but "harris-mint" drives me bonkers!

I feel the same way about coupon (its kew- pon, not koo-pon) and ketchup (it's ketch-chup, not cat-sup)

arkie spring thing

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-12-06 at 04:21 PM
Oops. I'll try not to harr'as you if we ever meet, but I'll have to avoid the word.


An Arkie curious cub
I'm the exact opposite of you on this one.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-12-06 at 12:56 PM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 12:57 PM (EST)

While the idea of American vs. British is, today, the practical usage, in the "old days" there was, it seems, an actual differentiation based upon whether the ad was seen or spoken.

i.e.: "I read an advertisment in the newspaper" vs. "I saw an advertizement on television."

It could be maddening as a kid because their manner of correcting mispronunciations or errors in grammar was to be listening to me until I got it wrong, then immediately cut off the discussion by ignoring me and turn to each other. After a few moments they would turn back to me and ask what it was I had been saying. If I got it wrong again, the discussion ended again. Usually, about the third time I was given a chance to speak I'd have figured out my error and be allowed to finish my sentence.

But, it really didn't help that the family had members that were, for instance, former British English teachers, and I spent a large amount of time in Canada. Nor, that my prep school tended toward the British form and had mandatory French classes from K-6.

I still remember getting in trouble in my public school HS Journalism class because I couldn't shake the habit of spelling "color" as "colour". And, to this day I mentally say the alphabet in French, because that's how I first learned it.


An Arkie curious cubEdit to fix html

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by nailbone on 04-12-06 at 02:09 PM
occassions


occasions


Sig by Arkie!!
Holey carp! My blog! MySpace!
Official OT Tassel Adjuster o-

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-12-06 at 02:36 AM
I was talking with my folks today and stumbled on the word 'prothelyzing' (spelling? having trouble getting MW online to come up with it), a tongue twister of a word itself.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"Is this the word you are looking for?"
Posted by Snidget on 04-12-06 at 08:28 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 08:29 AM (EST)

pros·e·ly·tize (prs-l-tz)
v. pros·e·ly·tized, pros·e·ly·tiz·ing, pros·e·ly·tiz·es
v.intr.
1. To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
2. To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
v.tr.
To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.


Edit: hit return instead of tab so didn't ahve a post

"Why, yes it is!"
Posted by cahaya on 04-12-06 at 11:10 AM
Thanks, Snidget. It's a word I rarely use, and an action I'd never do! I'll have a look at the roots to the word to get an idea where it came fromd, as odd at it seems.

Ok, here's the result from an online etymology dictionary: http://www.etymonline.com

O.Fr. proselite (13c.), from L.L. proselytus (c.200), from Gk. proselytos "convert (to Judaism), stranger, one who has come over," lit. "having arrived," from second aorist stem of proserkhesthai, from proti "toward" + root of eleusesthai "to be going to come;" related to ne-elys "new-comer." Originally in Eng. "a Gentile converted to Judaism" (c.1375). Proselytize "to make proselytes" first recorded in Eng. 1679.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by adricharlie on 04-12-06 at 05:17 AM
For me cinnamon has been hard but the hardest has been signal and single. I mess those two up all the time.

Growing up the funny one was the title of "Machinery Handbook". My maiden name started with Mac so of course this book was pronounced as "Mac-Inery Handbook". My parents actually never corrected that when me or my brothers would say it wrong.

My daughter couldn't say Wally when she was younger. For some reason those two l's really tripped her up.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by dabo on 04-13-06 at 00:50 AM
cimimum
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Snidget on 04-12-06 at 06:31 AM
Typing I occasionally transpose the left finger and right finger while typing.

all is a big problem with that because if you check what letter is on the other side it is an s and "ass" is a word the spell checker thinks is just fine.

Speaking I tend to transpose opposites. Really great when trying to explain something there you got a black one and a white one and all of a sudden the one you said in your head is the exact opposite of the one that came out of your mouth.

Oh, and my wash still has an "R" in it most of the time.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 08:01 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 10:10 AM (EST)

When we first met, Ladycub would deliberately misuse words just to irk me. So she would always talk about "shrimps" and "sheeps." Now she does that just because.

ETA: I'm sometimes tempted to spell "because" with an extra A: "beacause."


I mean, that's how Bea Arthur would spell it, right?

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by bystander on 04-12-06 at 08:07 AM
I can't say Sommelier. That's why I drink beer.


Yeah, That's! why.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Das Mole on 04-12-06 at 08:11 AM
I hate it when you IM somebody and you say "read" but you mean it in the past tense, like "I read that book". And then they don't get it and think you're a verb-tensical moron.

Squirrel isn't hard to say, but it's just irritating when I mess it up. Yeah.

As for spleling? Hah. I'm prefect at taht.


Das Mole - A True Legend

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-12-06 at 11:15 AM
Yeah, about the past tense 'read' in IM and e-mail communication. Often, I'll add another time-related word to clarify it, as in 'just read' or 'read the book yesterday'.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"Shocked"
Posted by mrc on 04-12-06 at 08:38 AM
that no one has mentioned salsa and seltzer.

Ferociously purrfected by thndrkttn

"RE: Shocked"
Posted by nailbone on 04-12-06 at 02:11 PM
Pork chopsss and applesauccccce


Sig by Arkie!!
Holey carp! My blog! MySpace!
Official OT Tassel Adjuster o-
"RE: Shocked"
Posted by bystander on 04-12-06 at 02:30 PM
Isshint that Ssshwell.

"soldier"
Posted by PagongRatEater on 04-12-06 at 09:34 AM
Ever since I was a kid, and even now, I will try to say should-ier. Don't know why and I've never had trouble with shoulder.

One I grew out of though is, since my IRL name is Dominic, I would call my belly my stomanick.


I think that second one may cover Pooh's embarrasment thread from y-day.

"RE: soldier"
Posted by maroonclowns mom on 04-12-06 at 10:02 AM
Oh boy. the missuse of the word HAD. We HAD came, we HAD went and when it`s proper to use the word had, they stick in HAD HAD.
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 09:57 AM
LAST EDITED ON 04-12-06 AT 09:59 AM (EST)

I have a R and L problem and still can't say World War II, it comes out Word Wor II.

And I couldn't pronouce my name (has an R and L) until I was 25.

My home town is Portsmouth, the mouth of the port. My mother always said Porchmouth. I hated that. She also referred to "French" salad dressing as "French's" - "French's" is a brand of mustard.

My son had a Th problem and his favorite show was Thundercats. I came out Bundercats.

I remember my youngest sister, when she was 2 - 4 had a T problem. Trucks were Fu**. Seriously, it was hilarious.

Anyway, my hillbilly "raising up" left me with warsh the car, far truck.

My grandmother also referred to the porch as a stoop and a paper bag as a poke - but that's not mispronouncing.

I've been doing alot of home repair and I **hate** to caulk. But when I proclaimed this to a group of people it came out, "I hate cock". **red face** Poor roosters did nothing to me. How do you pronounce caulk? Can you do it and not sound profane?



Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 10:06 AM
Laffin with you about "caulk." I'd say just forget there's an L in it and just say "cawwk." Like a crow.

I had a cow-orker who, for the life of her, could not pronounce the word "carillon." My town has a carillon (bell tower) in the middle of the main park. She would always say "cah-RILL-ee-yin", no matter how many times I wrote it out phonetically. It's CAROL-ahn.


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

"Despise "orientate" and "preventative""
Posted by aquariaqueen on 04-12-06 at 10:24 AM
I grew up with "orient" and "preventive". I swear orientate and preventative came about from a bunch of illiterate people in the workplace who wanted to sound much more educated than they were. Well, that's how it was in the hospital where I worked.

How does one pronounce "envelope"? en-vel-ope or ahn-vel-ope

"RE: Despise "orientate" and "preventative""
Posted by Emily RugBurn on 04-12-06 at 11:04 AM
I'm with you on "orientate" (although, I think both "preventative" and "preventive" are real words, no?).

You can add "presentate" (as opposed to "present") to the list as well.

I would put a letter into an "ahn-vel-ope" and I would "en-vel-ope" my child with love. I believe both are correct; just need to be used in the proper context.

~ EmRB

Generously handcrafted by the Amazing RollDdice; no relation to the Amazing Spider-Man.
Incessant Ramblings of a Cyber-delic Hippy

"RE: Despise "orientate" and "preventative""
Posted by Magnolia_Rocker on 04-12-06 at 11:08 AM
Add "conversate" to this list instead of "converse". Gah, I hate when people say that.


Siggy thanks to Syren!

"Theif"
Posted by iatovttotx78 on 04-12-06 at 10:39 AM
Can't say it for the life of me, so I don't even try anymore. everyone's a robber now.


Handcrafted by RollDdice.

"RE: Theif"
Posted by Emily RugBurn on 04-12-06 at 11:08 AM
HA! "Robber"!

Lvoe it!

~ EmRB

"RE: Theif"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 11:23 AM
I remember taking speech therapy as a kid, and the therapist put the sterotypical striped-shirt guy with the mask up on the wall. "What is that?" she said. I deftly replied, "Robber."


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Magnolia_Rocker on 04-12-06 at 11:22 AM
For me, when spelling out a word like "perceive" I have to do the whole "i" before "e" except after "c" thingy in my head. Weird how stuff like that sticks with ya.


Siggy thanks to Syren!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by weltek on 04-12-06 at 12:04 PM
Me, too!
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Breezy on 04-12-06 at 11:24 AM
cygnus


I also couldn't say Gilligan right for years.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-12-06 at 11:46 AM
How do you solve a problem like me, huh?

LC used to spell it "Cygnaus." I also like her spelling of "Cygiee." It's pronounced SIG-ness.


Of course, I'm still learning how to say Seana (see-ANN-nah).

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by byoffer on 04-12-06 at 11:37 AM
My dad is from Spain, and there is no J sound there. (it is pronounced with an H sound) My sister is Jane, and when we went there years ago my uncle just couldn't say her name. They settled on calling her "Chain".

My dad has a wonderful grasp on the English language. I swear he learned it by studying the dictionary. But one word he has always struggled with is "sheet" - the "ee" always comes out more "i". So when he talks about the "fresh sheets on the bed", we always joke that it must be time to change the sheets!


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by bystander on 04-12-06 at 12:20 PM
I can't say byoffer. I get confused, is it "BEE-YOFFER" or BI-OFFER?


Also, Who Will dance on the floor in the round?

"It's more people that give me fits...."
Posted by byoffer on 04-12-06 at 12:43 PM
It's at times like this that I wish I had just gone with Yoffer as my login ID. Then I wouldn't have this crazy By-Bro who has me trying to develop a macro to auto-whack* him everytime he responds to one of my posts.

Of course, if my name was just Yoffer, then this stranger named Bystander would post that he has fits about that, struggling between "YOFFER" (correct) and "WHY-OFFER" (incorrect).


And in this case it is a double *Whack*.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by azkate on 04-12-06 at 11:57 AM
Rural is a tough one for me too! I sound like Barbara Walters on SNL!

What drives me bonkers though is people who mispronounce the word - ask. How hard is it to say properly (assk)? A friend of mine who is quite articulate pronounces it AX-ks?????? I can't even say that on purpose!

The one word I totally humiliated myself with was automaton. Now reading that, you would think auto - maton. So that was how I pronounced it, in front of two very intelligent people. I had to repeat it three times before they finally clued in and informed me that the word was pronounced au-TOM-a-ton. Now I just say "like a robot."

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 12:25 PM
au-TOM-a-ton is so not a word. And the Ax-ks is street talk and is pronouced incorretly on purpose.

Here's one for you: Crayola coloring thingees. Is it krans or cray' ons. We always used krans until a girl who worked here kept saying cray'ons. She had the best pronunciation. I now correct people when they talk about coloring with krans.


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by maroonclowns mom on 04-12-06 at 12:39 PM
Little girl went to the store with an empty bottle. Couldn`t say "vinegar" so she told the man to "smell this and fill it up"


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 03:50 PM
Huh?


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by azkate on 04-12-06 at 01:30 PM
Mmmkay. Guess I will fling my Websters out the window then...

DUCK!

(au-tom-a-ton - self-operating machine, a robot, one that acts in a mechanical or impersonal way)

I know the street slang thing but this friend o' mine is not doing the slang thing. She (and several others) truly have a problem pronouncing the word "ask." I don't know why.

Cray-ons of course. But I was raised in New England. When I lived down south though, they were krans. I had no idea what that meant until the speaker told me it is what you color with!

And I'll raise the ante with.....

New Or-leans
or
Nawlins
?
Ca-ribean
Caara-be-an

Uh-oh, am I thread jackin?

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 03:49 PM
It is Nawlins and Ca-ribean to me.

Louisville, Ky is Lu-a-vul, I know that one. But if it is Lu-a-vul is it Nash-vul and Nox-vul.


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 04:13 PM
Yes and yes.

I grew up in East Texas and there is a town called Greenville that is pronounced Green-vul. There is also a town outside of Dallas called Lancaster and that pronunciation is hard to write phonetically but I will give it a try.

Lane-cuh-stir. I think I got it.

The first time I ever heard it I was checking in summer campers and they were telling me where they were from. After much searching one of the kids took the sheets from me and found the city. I just looked at them and said, "THAT looks nothing like what you said." They had a good laugh at me.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Magnolia_Rocker on 04-12-06 at 04:19 PM
In MS one of the most strangly pronunciated towns is Kosciusko. Locals pronounce it kos-e-es-sco.


Siggy thanks to Syren!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 04:19 PM
We disagree on Lancaster in my family. My in-laws say Land-caster and I say Lan' custer, which is close or the same as you used. Then there is Newark, Ohio affectionatly referred to as Nerk.


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-13-06 at 01:15 AM
If you're in Pennsyltucky and try saying "lan-CASS-ter", folks will look at you funny. It's "LANK-iss-ter" there.

Also, there's "NEW-irk," New Jersey, and "new-ARK," Delaware. Both spelled Newark.


*cue obligatory Intercourse, Paradise, Blue Balls, and Bird-in-Hand references*

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-13-06 at 01:25 AM
While I was in the U.K. for a short work stint, I stayed at the Gloucester Hotel. Well, it's not pronounced "Glou-ces-ter" like it's spelled, but "Gloster". Leicester is "Lester" and Worcester is "Wuster". I swear they do this nonsense to catch foreign spies and single out tourists.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-13-06 at 02:16 AM
Your phonetic spelling is better than mine because that's exactly how they say it in Texas. LANK-is-ter.

We also have NEW-irk here in CA.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-13-06 at 03:09 AM
Peru has Leema, Ohio has Lye-mah (both spelled Lima). In this area we always have a field day with a new tv or radio journalist with that one.

When in Australia, I passed the test given us by a friendly shopkeeper. (dh didn't - nah, nah, nah, na, na ):

Sydney = Sinny
Melbourne = Melbun
Cairns = Kens

(There's a slight slur or inflection in each, but that's the best I can do in type.)

Place names in different areas are fun.


An Arkie curious cub

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-12-06 at 01:52 PM
azkate writes; The one word I totally humiliated myself with was automaton. Now reading that, you would think auto - maton. So that was how I pronounced it, in front of two very intelligent people. I had to repeat it three times before they finally clued in and informed me that the word was pronounced au-TOM-a-ton. Now I just say "like a robot."

**********

I have a word like that. "Sparse." I had read the word many times in books and knew exactly what it meant but I don't think I had actually ever heard it spoken. So one time I thought I might sound intelligent and use this word (you'd think I'd get a clue, huh) and pronounced it "sp-air-se." My friend laughed at me and or course I said, "What?" and she informed me that the word was pronounced "sp-are-se." Again with the red face.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-12-06 at 04:02 PM
Speaking of rural, there's those rural routes.

Route: Is that pronounced 'rout' or 'root'? I've heard both, but use 'rout'.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Magnolia_Rocker on 04-12-06 at 04:08 PM
Not sure which is correct but the pronunciation is definitely geographical. Route (rout) is the southern phrasing and route (root) is the northern phrasing. I married a northerner and tried to tell him he was wrong cause his way of saying it ("root") is what anchor's a tree to the ground.


Siggy thanks to Syren!

"Route"
Posted by Spanky68 on 04-13-06 at 12:08 PM
I don't know why, but here in Central Texas, most of my peeps would pronounce it root.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lisapooh on 04-12-06 at 12:54 PM
I almost always spell tomorrow wrong. I have to think about it way too much.

Also medical forms vex me. It is quite annoiying to have to make note of my asthsma and allergy to penicillan. dont' even get me started on McKenna's rheumatological condition.

I try to write around words I can't spell. that's the fuschia principle. IOW, how do you spell fuschia? h-o-t-p-i-n-k

as far as speaking, the word wasps gives me fits. My Hoosier relatives "warsh" their clothes and hair which is so annoying. They also feesh in a crick. But my friend Jen who somehow manages to put an "r" in oil is the worst! "oirl"? oh, hell to the no.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Maroonclown on 04-12-06 at 02:11 PM
I'm surprised no-one has picked up the roof vs. ruf annoyance.

It's a rooooooooooof. A dog says ruf.

arkie spring thing

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 03:52 PM
A dog and us appalachians.


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Brownroach on 04-12-06 at 05:42 PM
It's fuchsia. The plant was named after a botanist named Fuchs, that's how I remember it.


Bridge for sale to highest bidder. Call 1-800-BRroach.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by tribephyl on 04-13-06 at 05:49 AM
Get the Fuchs outta here!


I absolutely do not believe it.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Brownroach on 04-13-06 at 12:12 PM
Who the Fuchs asked *you* to chime in?

Anyway, I swear, it's twoo, it's twoo.

Main Entry: fuch·sia
Pronunciation: 'fyü-sh&
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Leonhard Fuchs died 1566 German botanist
1 : any of a genus (Fuchsia) of decorative shrubs of the evening-primrose family having showy nodding flowers usually in deep pinks, reds, and purples
2 : a vivid reddish purple


Bridge for sale to highest bidder. Call 1-800-BRroach.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-12-06 at 02:07 PM
DH once had a class in programming where the Indian professor kept telling them about Kappa City. When they got to Kappa City they needed to do x. This was the formula to determine how long it would take to get to Kappa City. Etc.

Finally, totally confused, one of the students asked if he would write Kappa City on the board. Not certain why, but willing to oblige, the professor wrote on the board c-a-p-a-c-i-t-y.

With a universal sigh of relief as things became clear to the class, one of the students said "Ah, capacity!" To which the prof replied "Yes! Kappa City."


An Arkie curious cub

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Snidget on 04-12-06 at 03:26 PM
I had that in a toxicology class with urineary excretion (british pronunciation) rather than Urinary excretion. Rhymed with Brine-ary. I wrote it down myself by sound and figured it out. One science professor from India I worked for came over and asked what an epitome was. Pronounced like you would if it were a science term epi, from epidermis and tome from microtome. Something that cuts the outside of something off??? I ended up having to look it up in the dictonary before it dawned on me it was pronounced epitome. He wanted to know why and all I came up with was I didn't invent this crazy language.


Imaginary friends by Bob!

One Mouse Two Mice
One House Two Hice?
One Goose Two Geese
One Moose Two Meese?

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-13-06 at 01:19 AM
Make up your mind, Snidge. Either urinary or uroutary.


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mom2bjm on 04-12-06 at 03:37 PM
My algebra teacher in HS was from Iran - very smart man, but he could not pronounce my name. So to anyone else in the class, I was also known as M-A - rather than A-Mee!



Another fabulous Siggie from Cyg!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Ante Bellum on 04-12-06 at 02:09 PM
I always have trouble with "swoop."
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 03:58 PM
Evidently you do since you posted above *looks up*.


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by kircon on 04-12-06 at 02:57 PM
The words that send chills up my spine are also Indiana inspired. War-sha = wash and the worst is poosha = push.

I mispronouce several states. West-consin, really bad when you live in the state. Ill-a-noise = Illinois
And how many can say Massachusetts?




"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Lasann on 04-12-06 at 03:56 PM
Well I don't know about those states but I live in a hia.


Flowers courtesy of my yard.


"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-13-06 at 03:16 AM
Must be Columbus, maybe Findlay, or south of there. Up here we live in O-Hi-O. But, then again, up here, we probably would be better off if we'd lost the Toledo (OH-MI) War.


An Arkie curious cub

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-13-06 at 02:53 PM
You mean the Toledo secessionist movement is over? *kicks dirt*


"The insurgency began, and we missed it."

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by rasslinmomma on 04-12-06 at 04:19 PM
Ax-ks is my pet peeve. My youngest son's teacher uses it all the time. Street talk on the street I'll tolerate, but I expect better from educators in the classroom. It's like nails on a chalkboard. She's also been teaching them about other states. Codorado anyone?


Courtesy of the very talented ARnutz

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by nailbone on 04-12-06 at 05:23 PM
Souds like subone with a code in der node.


Sig by Arkie!!
Holey carp! My blog! MySpace!
Official OT Tassel Adjuster o-
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Brownroach on 04-13-06 at 12:17 PM
She should move to Coddeddicut.


Bridge for sale to highest bidder. Call 1-800-BRroach.

"pork-a-pine"
Posted by iatovttotx78 on 04-12-06 at 04:28 PM
Neither of my sisters can say porcupine correctly. I think they're both just closet dendrophilliacs.


Handcrafted by RollDdice.


Yes, its a bad joke

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Mon Cherie on 04-12-06 at 04:31 PM
Typing words, hell, I don't use spell check and sometimes stare at a word too long to see if it's spelled correctly, it gets more confusing the longer I look at the word.

Speaking, I have a hard time with "breakfast". It comes out something like "brefakst". But then, I'm not a morning person.

Right now I'm struggling with "alot" or "a lot", so I just try to say "sh!tload" whenever I can.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by arkiegrl on 04-12-06 at 07:59 PM
Considering I'm from Arkansas, what makes you think I would know I'm mispronouncing the words?

For some reason, a couple of months ago I was having difficulty with "Seattle".

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-13-06 at 01:26 AM
Swoop block! No problem with those words.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-13-06 at 02:58 AM
>Swoop block!

Please forgive my ignorance, but what does this mean?

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-13-06 at 03:24 AM
As I understand it (I'm still not sure I do completely, so it's open to correction others here who have been around a lot longer), a swoop at 100 (also optionally at 69 and 200, 300, etc) is done by someone who has not yet posted in the thresd. A swoop is considered to be sort of a rare prize trophy. A 'swoop block' is done by someone who has already posted in the thresd, thus preventing a new poster to the thresd from getting a swoop. I may have broken an unwritten rule, though, by posting the 99th post and then the 100th one, although this rule might only apply to those intentionally do it by doing consecutive posts to bring the thresd up to the 99th and 100th post so that they can play the swoop block. People have been known to wait and wait for that 99th post to appear in order to play the coveted swoop.

Hope that explains it. Anyone else is free to correct this explanation.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-13-06 at 03:32 AM
Thanks,I think I sort of get it.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-13-06 at 10:12 PM
As I also think I understand, keep the swoop game in OT. It's generally considered bad form on show forums.


An Arkie curious cub

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-13-06 at 11:12 PM
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that. Indeed, any of the OT funzies and quirks belong only in OT.

The only wrinkle I've seen in crossing forums so far was when some of the "Be the _____" reality show thresd participants spilled out into other thresds without changing their sigs.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-14-06 at 02:39 AM
I gotcha. I'll leave it here and have fun if the opportunity presents itself. Thanks


Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Brownroach on 04-13-06 at 12:24 PM
I believe there must be at least a twelve-place differential between one's last post and the swoop block post. Therefore, had your last previous post been #88 or earlier, the swoop block would be credited. As it stands, it does not count.


I'm just making this up, what the Fuchs do I know.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by cahaya on 04-13-06 at 12:41 PM
That's what I like about this forum - the rules are unofficial, unwritten and always subject to change, if they even exist outside the collective minds of those who participate in it.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-13-06 at 02:56 PM
LAST EDITED ON 04-13-06 AT 04:53 PM (EST)

Also, a swoop is usually done only on OT (eta: and on shallow-end threads only). It's discouraged in the other forums *coughSOcough*, so don't get any ideas.


Better than I deserve. So's this sig by tribephyl.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by sharnina on 04-13-06 at 04:47 PM
LAST EDITED ON 04-13-06 AT 04:49 PM (EST)

I really really won't. That was just one little exciting moment for me to turn a topic into a hot topic. And it's coincidental that it happened right after I asked this question. Really.

ETA - And this is an obvious indication that I have WAY too much time on my hands.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by xwraith27 on 04-13-06 at 05:02 AM
I read an article once about a woman named Monica Pinas. She had to have her last name changed because almost everyone she knew mispronounced it as /PEE-nuhs/ as opposed to /PEE-nyuhs/.

Anyway, I personally have trouble pronouncing words that have r's and l's in them (i.e., relegate, Rolls-Royce). I almost always switch those consonants. Never had much of a problem with spelling, though.

"Xpecially Xpresso"
Posted by tribephyl on 04-13-06 at 05:59 AM
Any time that anyone starts A-s words with an X makes me cringe.

Xtrogen
Xoteric
Xtablishment

Arrrgghhh...I've made myself go mad!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by AZ_Leo on 04-13-06 at 09:49 PM
Saguaro. The gu is supposed to sound like a w and since coming to Phoenix I try to say it correctly and it just feels wrong. Also anything around here beginning with a J or G since I'm never sure if I should pronounce it or not (such as javelina {havelina} or Gila {hila}).
"Gila"
Posted by cahaya on 04-13-06 at 11:16 PM
LAST EDITED ON 04-13-06 AT 11:17 PM (EST)

No, this isn't about hila gila monsters...

Rather, the word 'gila' (with a hard 'g' consonant) in Malay means 'crazy'. 'Gila-gila' is crazyness or silliness, and there's a local mag along the lines of Mad mag with this name.


An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Colonel Zoidberg on 04-13-06 at 10:11 PM
I can't say "desktop." I think it's the "skt" in a row. I always end up dropping the "k." And it sucks, because in my job, I have to use it from time to time, and I always get self-conscious.
"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-14-06 at 00:13 AM
If, in business, you have to use "desktop" because you are referring to a desktop computer, try substituting "stationary". It's probably a better opposite for "laptop" anyway, and they'll get it.

(Now, if you're selling desks and have to ask what wood grain they want for the top? You're on your own. )


An Arkie curious cub
Trying to be helpful since, um... now?

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by EMTBGRL on 04-16-06 at 01:38 AM
I have a hard time saying magnanimous.

I also mix up "further" with "farther."

Is it "further down the list" or is it "farther down the list?"

What about lie down, lay down, lain down, lies down.. ??

Pet Peeve Time: Mixing up the meaning of "anxious" with "eager."
"Anxious" indicates that there is an amount of fear involved. "Eager" means that someone is looking forward to something. Of course, knowing this also means that you can laugh at some strange sentences. Some with some truth?

"I was really anxious to get started on the family vacation."

Mwah ha ha ha ha ha!! Yeah. If you don't like your family!

"utilize" on a resume irks me. What the heck is wrong with "use?" It's clearer.

All corporate buzzwords irk me.

Continuing to use outdated phrases bugs me. "By the same token" Out. out. OUT!

It is NOT "due to" it IS "since."

--My parents were English teachers. Betcha couldn't tell!

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-16-06 at 02:44 PM
That, or your dad was Edwin Newman.


His "Strictly Speaking" is still a great read.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by EMTBGRL on 04-16-06 at 08:37 PM
>That, or your dad was Edwin
>Newman.

I didn't know who that was--so I looked it up--and found this:

Strictly Speaking, by journalist and TV anchorman Edwin Newman, sub-titled "Will America be the death of English ?", was published in 1974. In the book Newman "skillfully skinned contemporary written and spoken English" pointing out how the language of Shakespeare had degenerated at the hands of business and politicians, becoming choked with "banalities, cliches, pomposities, redundancies and catchphrases".

Nope. He wasn't Edwin Newman, but I am sure my father respected him a lot!

In actuality, Edwin Newman sounds a lot more like my mother! --She's a widow now, too bad Mr. Newman is too old for her! I'm sure, at the very least, they would enjoy good conversation.

I know I do! Thanks, Cygnus.

"RE: Words that give you fits"
Posted by qwertypie on 04-17-06 at 00:56 AM
I always had problems with relevations/revelations


Yes It's Vintage Tribephyl!