I say tomato etc.
December 21, 2011 8:19 AM Subscribe
Where can I find a comprehensive list of words that are pronounced differently in the US and the UK? Wikipedia is a good start, but it's not complete.
I am not interested in words that are spelled differently but pronounced the same (allowing for accent etc.), such as -ise/-ize words. I am looking for a full list of words such as "adult," "patent," "testimony," and "vase."
Some things that would make the answer even better, but are not completely essential:
1. A straight alphabetical list of words is preferred to Wikipedia's arrangement of them according to type.
2. Having said that, a straight division into two A-Z lists would be even better: words with identical spellings and then words with different spellings.
3. It's not that important, but it would be nice to have a little thing next to each word that I can click to hear the word being spoken.
Thanks.
I am not interested in words that are spelled differently but pronounced the same (allowing for accent etc.), such as -ise/-ize words. I am looking for a full list of words such as "adult," "patent," "testimony," and "vase."
Some things that would make the answer even better, but are not completely essential:
1. A straight alphabetical list of words is preferred to Wikipedia's arrangement of them according to type.
2. Having said that, a straight division into two A-Z lists would be even better: words with identical spellings and then words with different spellings.
3. It's not that important, but it would be nice to have a little thing next to each word that I can click to hear the word being spoken.
Thanks.
Aluminum/aluminium. Pronunciation difference.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 11:20 AM on December 21, 2011
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 11:20 AM on December 21, 2011
Response by poster: I did specify in my question "allowing for accent."
I realise that accent and dialect play a large part in pronunciation.
However, the words I gave as examples have differences in pronunciation that go beyond these things. For instance, a majority of people in the USA pronounce "adult" with the stress on the second syllable. People in the UK, whether they are from the Orkneys, Yorkshire, Wales or Essex, tend to put stress on the first syllable.
If Wikipedia managed to find a way to compile a page containing more useful information than just a snarky "all of them," then there must be useful general information elsewhere too.
Come on, don't try to get smart with me! Believe it or not, this is important.
posted by cincinnatus c at 11:21 AM on December 21, 2011
I realise that accent and dialect play a large part in pronunciation.
However, the words I gave as examples have differences in pronunciation that go beyond these things. For instance, a majority of people in the USA pronounce "adult" with the stress on the second syllable. People in the UK, whether they are from the Orkneys, Yorkshire, Wales or Essex, tend to put stress on the first syllable.
If Wikipedia managed to find a way to compile a page containing more useful information than just a snarky "all of them," then there must be useful general information elsewhere too.
Come on, don't try to get smart with me! Believe it or not, this is important.
posted by cincinnatus c at 11:21 AM on December 21, 2011
Best answer: This is the book you want.
Long out of print, probably will need to get it from library loan.
posted by empath at 11:33 AM on December 21, 2011
Long out of print, probably will need to get it from library loan.
posted by empath at 11:33 AM on December 21, 2011
Response by poster: An answer that I referred to in my previous post has been deleted.
What I ended up doing was scraping the words from the Wikipedia page, and elsewhere, and compiling my own alphabetical source in a spreadsheet. If any of the people who favorited this question would like a look, me-mail me.
I had no time to investigate his or her answer, but empath had the most useful suggestion, and I will probably investigate that book in the future.
But sometimes I wish for a "worst answer" button. Several of them.
posted by cincinnatus c at 6:50 PM on December 21, 2011
What I ended up doing was scraping the words from the Wikipedia page, and elsewhere, and compiling my own alphabetical source in a spreadsheet. If any of the people who favorited this question would like a look, me-mail me.
I had no time to investigate his or her answer, but empath had the most useful suggestion, and I will probably investigate that book in the future.
But sometimes I wish for a "worst answer" button. Several of them.
posted by cincinnatus c at 6:50 PM on December 21, 2011
I'm not sure that this is even possible. Even with the examples you give, there are cases where Brits would pronounce adult with the stress on the second syllable (normally in reference to pornography). Similarly vase (pronounced vays) might be considered an upperclass but legitimate way of pronouncing vase (vars) in Britain. How do American's pronounce 'patently' (as in, "this is patently absurd")? I'm guessing you pronounce it the same way we do, with a long 'a' - in which case you could argue it's a difference even within American English.
In short, I think you're really asking "What words have stress on a different syllable between British English and American English". But, we go straight down "this is due to accents" route and as mentioned there will be exceptions in both regions.
There's a few from this thread. Again, you're going to run up against the "normally" problem mentioned above. The Brits generally pronounce "TV" with the stress on the second syllable. So do the Americans. But if you're from Southern US, you probably pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable.
Good luck, but I think this is impossible!!
posted by BigCalm at 8:18 AM on December 22, 2011
In short, I think you're really asking "What words have stress on a different syllable between British English and American English". But, we go straight down "this is due to accents" route and as mentioned there will be exceptions in both regions.
There's a few from this thread. Again, you're going to run up against the "normally" problem mentioned above. The Brits generally pronounce "TV" with the stress on the second syllable. So do the Americans. But if you're from Southern US, you probably pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable.
Good luck, but I think this is impossible!!
posted by BigCalm at 8:18 AM on December 22, 2011
Response by poster: I don't think 'adult' with the second syllable stressed is used generally anywhere by native Brits, whether pornography is involved or not. No self-consciously posh person says 'vase' as 'vays'. Of course there are exceptions, but there are also clear distinctions that go beyond accent and dialect. Adult. Vase. Of course, feel free to contact the people who compile dictionaries to tell them that they're misguided.
Anyway, I put a decent list together myself and am not looking for further answers.
posted by cincinnatus c at 4:11 PM on December 22, 2011
Anyway, I put a decent list together myself and am not looking for further answers.
posted by cincinnatus c at 4:11 PM on December 22, 2011
When used as an adjective (as in 'adult film' for pornography), not like the noun definition you've linked, it is in my experience common to stress the second syllable. Here's a dictionary reference for you: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adult
posted by jacalata at 7:38 PM on December 22, 2011
posted by jacalata at 7:38 PM on December 22, 2011
oh my bad, that's a US pronunciation guide. I guess I will go ahead and tell the dictionary makers that in my experience living in London, they are incorrect. Given that dictionaries are used to being so well abreast of changing usage and pronunciation, I am sure that they will be shocked.
posted by jacalata at 7:50 PM on December 22, 2011
posted by jacalata at 7:50 PM on December 22, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jacalata at 10:52 AM on December 21, 2011