"th" as in "the" or "thread" - Page 3

Spexxvet · 09-14-2007, 08:09 AM

Ferry rhymes with furry. Fairy rhymes with hairy.

Spexxvet · 09-14-2007, 08:15 AM

My original point. Most people for whom English is a second language pronounce "th", whether as in "the" or "thread" as something other than we do. Germans say "zee tread", French say "dee tread", Japanese say "zee sssread". It seems as though we may be the only ones to use the "dental fricative".

SteveDallas · 09-14-2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

It seems as though we may be the only ones to use the "dental fricative".

No, there are plenty--but you're right about the languages you do list.

monster · 09-14-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Ferry rhymes with furry.

No it doesn't. Seriously, you rich Americans need to club together and buy another vowel sound.

Ferry, Furry and Fairy are all distinct. As are Fiery, Fury and Fuckingincidentally.

I'm sure I've been here before ...maybe in a dream....? Where's SG, she's in charge of cellar dreams isn't she? I had this one before, I demand a refund.

Cloud · 09-14-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

No it doesn't. Seriously, you rich Americans need to club together and buy another vowel sound.

Ferry, Furry and Fairy are all distinct. As are Fiery, Fury and Fuckingincidentally.

I'm sure I've been here before ...maybe in a dream....? Where's SG, she's in charge of cellar dreams isn't she? I had this one before, I demand a refund.

Just curious--in what regional accents does ferry rhyme with furry?

HungLikeJesus · 09-14-2007, 11:11 AM

Since we're on the subject, how do others pronounce 'wh' words, like what, when, where and whale?

My grandmother was from Scotland and would always say "It's not 'wale' it's ..." and then she would pronounce 'whale' so you could hear the 'h,' but it sounded to me more like the letters were reversed, 'hwale.' Or 'hwat' or 'hwen.' I don't remember about 'who.'

Undertoad · 09-14-2007, 11:11 AM

I think I get it now - the distinction between ferry and fairy is a slightly more open mouth on the first syllable, right?

edit: in some regional accents, "very" rhymes with "furry". Maybe even in mine... yikes

Shawnee123 · 09-14-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

Since we're on the subject, how do others pronounce 'wh' words, like what, when, where and whale?

My grandmother was from Scotland and would always say "It's not 'wale' it's ..." and then she would pronounce 'whale' so you could hear the 'h,' but it sounded to me more like the letters were reversed, 'hwale.' Or 'hwat' or 'hwen.' I don't remember about 'who.'

Like Mrs hWiggins (as said by Mr Tudball)

Spexxvet · 09-14-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

Just curious--in what regional accents does ferry rhyme with furry?

Philadelphia. But we also rhyme water with wooder, or in South Philadelphia, wooduh.

Berry and bury are pronounced identically.

Cloud · 09-14-2007, 01:15 PM

How strange. To me, water and wooder are not remotely similar; but berry and bury are homonyms

Razzmatazz13 · 09-14-2007, 01:45 PM

People who say "wooder" also tend to say "warsh" or "worsh" instead of wash...

Also I've heard that's just a PA thing

Spexxvet · 09-14-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

Just curious--in what regional accents does ferry rhyme with furry?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

How strange. To me, water and wooder are not remotely similar; but berry and bury are homonyms

Are you saying that berry sounds different than ferry?

Cloud · 09-14-2007, 02:49 PM

sure, berry sounds different from ferry.

They have a different initial consonant! (sticks out tongue)

DanaC · 09-15-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

My grandmother was from Scotland and would always say "It's not 'wale' it's ..." and then she would pronounce 'whale' so you could hear the 'h,' but it sounded to me more like the letters were reversed, 'hwale.' Or 'hwat' or 'hwen.' I don't remember about 'who.'

With most of the 'wh' words, the letters were reversed as Old English (Anglo-Saxon) evolved into Modern English: 'what' = hwa, 'where' = hwaer, 'who' = hwa.

You still can hear a slight hint of that 'hw' sound in some English regional pronunciations, but it's most pronounced over the border in Scotland.

HungLikeJesus · 09-16-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

With most of the 'wh' words, the letters were reversed as Old English (Anglo-Saxon) evolved into Modern English: 'what' = hwa, 'where' = hwaer, 'who' = hwa.

You still can hear a slight hint of that 'hw' sound in some English regional pronunciations, but it's most pronounced over the border in Scotland.

Thanks Dana. That's one of those things that I've always wanted to know but was afraid to ask.

09-14-2007, 08:09 AM	#31
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Ferry rhymes with furry. Fairy rhymes with hairy. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

09-14-2007, 08:15 AM	#32
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	My original point. Most people for whom English is a second language pronounce "th", whether as in "the" or "thread" as something other than we do. Germans say "zee tread", French say "dee tread", Japanese say "zee sssread". It seems as though we may be the only ones to use the "dental fricative". __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

09-14-2007, 11:11 AM	#36
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Since we're on the subject, how do others pronounce 'wh' words, like what, when, where and whale? My grandmother was from Scotland and would always say "It's not 'wale' it's ..." and then she would pronounce 'whale' so you could hear the 'h,' but it sounded to me more like the letters were reversed, 'hwale.' Or 'hwat' or 'hwen.' I don't remember about 'who.' __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

09-14-2007, 01:15 PM	#40
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	How strange. To me, water and wooder are not remotely similar; but berry and bury are homonyms __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

09-14-2007, 01:45 PM	#41
Razzmatazz13 Vicariously, I live... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,221	People who say "wooder" also tend to say "warsh" or "worsh" instead of wash... Also I've heard that's just a PA thing __________________ I have some people I need to have smoted. ~ SteveDallas

09-14-2007, 11:11 AM	#37
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I think I get it now - the distinction between ferry and fairy is a slightly more open mouth on the first syllable, right? edit: in some regional accents, "very" rhymes with "furry". Maybe even in mine... yikes

09-14-2007, 02:49 PM	#43
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	sure, berry sounds different from ferry. They have a different initial consonant! (sticks out tongue) __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

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