Is February Pronounced Differently Than It Looks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tregg Smith
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the pronunciation of the month "February," exploring various perspectives on how it is articulated and the implications of regional accents and language evolution. Participants share personal experiences, regional variations, and humorous takes on pronunciation, while also touching on broader themes of language and dialect.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that many people struggle with the pronunciation of "February," often simplifying it to "Febuary" or other variations.
  • One participant mentions a Scottish influence, stating they pronounce it with trilled "r"s as "Feb' rare-ee."
  • Several participants express their own pronunciations, including "Feb-er-ary," "Febwuwary," and "FEH-brew-air-ee," highlighting the diversity in pronunciation.
  • There are discussions about other words with varying pronunciations, such as "iron," with participants sharing their regional accents and how they pronounce it differently.
  • Some participants humorously suggest alternative names for February, such as "evilwintermonth#3" or "Month 2."
  • One participant reflects on the inconsistency in English pronunciation and spelling, suggesting that this is a common feature of the language.
  • Another participant raises the idea that language evolves over time, noting that pronunciation changes can become accepted over generations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct pronunciation of "February," with multiple competing views and personal preferences expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the influence of regional accents and the evolution of language, indicating that pronunciation may vary widely based on geographic and cultural factors.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in linguistics, regional dialects, or the evolution of language may find this discussion particularly engaging.

  • #31
I try real hard to say "Feb-roo-air-eee", but it's not easy. A lot of times it comes out "Feb-roo-wary", or in the worst cases, "Feb-yoo-air-eee".
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #32
KingNothing said:
I try real hard to say "Feb-roo-air-eee", but it's not easy. A lot of times it comes out "Feb-roo-wary", or in the worst cases, "Feb-yoo-air-eee".

Why do you want to sound like a foreigner? Real Americans say "Feb U ary". Consistency between spelling a pronounciation is not considered a virtue in English. :smile:
 
  • #33
phinds said:
Why do you want to sound like a foreigner? Real Americans say "Feb U ary".

Because chicks love foreigners. Also, your logic is flawed because three years ago I learned that I was not a Real American. I learned this from a very special woman:

170px-Sarah_Palin_Germany_3_Cropped_Lightened.JPG
 
  • #34
phinds said:
Consistency between spelling a pronounciation is not considered a virtue in English.
Indeed. According to the Chinese, English orthography is pictographic.
 
  • #35
I never say "Februrary" or whatever it is because I can't pronounce it.
 
  • #36
DaveC426913 said:
Clarification: Does capitalizing it simply turn it into some sort of acronym?

eg: he ('hee') versus He ('aitch-ee' or 'helium')

So, Dave, did you give up or did you figure it out and just move on?
 
  • #37
phinds said:
No, it's just a simple capitalization, although it does change the word from a verb to an adjective and it does change the meaning.
Hm. Now that I think about it, there are many words with the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations based on context. So, capitalization would disambiguate the meaning, and thus the pronunciation. Also, turning something into a proper name could cause a change in pronunciation.

But no I don't know what it is.
 
  • #38


How do you say nuclear? George Bush 2 says nuke you ler. He figures a prez can do as he likes. What about the argument that keeping a language uniform keeps a country united? Ridulous you say? Now America has Englilsh and Spanish for main languages and somebody wanting to introduce ebonics into the school system. It's fun though to play with language. Bob Dylan or Shakespear. I can't understand some black people at all. I've met some blacks and hispanics who I'd take as neighbors anyday.
 
  • #39


Tregg Smith said:
How do you say nuclear? George Bush 2 says nuke you ler. He figures a prez can do as he likes. What about the argument that keeping a language uniform keeps a country united? Ridulous you say? Now America has Englilsh and Spanish for main languages and somebody wanting to introduce ebonics into the school system. It's fun though to play with language. Bob Dylan or Shakespear. I can't understand some black people at all. I've met some blacks and hispanics who I'd take as neighbors anyday.

This one is unique, near as I can tell.

The Polish maid was asked to polish the silverware.
 
  • #40
Ever spent much time in the deep south of the US?

I was pretty dismayed to hear that patch of green between freeway lanes called a "medium strip" regularly, but even more disappointed to hear commercials exhorting customers to come to furniture stores to buy "bedroom suits" that were on sale. I kept thinking that "bedroom suits" were the stock in trade of Victoria's Secret. Certainly they do a good job displaying their wares.
 
  • #41
My wife coined a new word-comatoast. She is trying to say the word comatose. It's easier for some people to use familier pronunciations than to try to use an uncommon (to them)word. I think of comatoast as being passed out drunk. Another of her's is 'blasted to Bolivia' rather than 'blown to oblivion.' She's my wife and I still love her.
 
  • #42


phinds said:
This one is unique, near as I can tell.

The Polish maid was asked to polish the silverware.

Are you sure she wasn't made?


The bedroom suite (suit) thing in the south has always seemed strange to me. I never tried to confirm if it was correct or not, just avoided the combination altogether.

I've never heard wrought iron pronounced as eye - run, but the people in this part of Texas all seem to say ROD eye - urn.
 
  • #43


S_Happens said:
I've never heard wrought iron pronounced as eye - run, but the people in this part of Texas all seem to say ROD eye - urn.
One I've wondered about:

Yesterday you wrought havoc; today you will once again wreak havoc.

Does that mean that yesterday's iron was wrought, but today you will wreak some iron?
 
  • #44


DaveC426913 said:
One I've wondered about:

Yesterday you wrought havoc; today you will once again wreak havoc.

Does that mean that yesterday's iron was wrought, but today you will wreak some iron?
I had to look this up. Apparently, today you will work some iron:

wrought   [rawt] Show IPA
verb
1.
Archaic except in some senses . a simple past tense and past participle of work.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wrought
 

Similar threads

PF Fan Fiction: Mathematicians in Love
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
News What do you think about the deal with North Korea?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 226)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 226)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K