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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Pronunciation problem
Pronunciation problem
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mariflo
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Pronunciation problem
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Dear colleagues,
I would like your opinion on the subject of the pronunciation of �often �. Are both pronunciations /ofen/ and /often/ correct? From what I know the second one is called �spelling pronunciation � in which a word is pronounced according to its spelling. According to Random House, " �often � was pronounced with a t-sound until the 17th century, when a pronunciation without the /t/ came to predominate in the speech of the educated. Common use of a spelling pronunciation has since restored the /t/ for many speakers and today they exist side by side in a way that it has become fully standard once again".
What is the latest trend in Britain and USA? I would especially appreciate a native speaker �s opinion or anyone else �s who happens to know it first hand. |
14 Oct 2010
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arlissa
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In the USA, I mostly hear /often/ and that is also what I personally use (I am a native speaker). Only occasionally do I hear /ofen/, and it �s almost always by someone not from the USA or someone speaking quickly or in a way that obstructs clear speech.
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14 Oct 2010
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stexstme
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Hi!
I �m not a native, but I used to live in the UK, & go there very often.../ofen/ ;o)))
I heard both in Britain ; My British friends ( & I ) use /ofen/ . Going up North, people seem to use /often/ - but not sure about this ;o)) British people will tell you !
Sylvie |
14 Oct 2010
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ditku
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It �s like with �exactly � where you can actually hear the [t] phoneme. Both versions of both words are correct. :)
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14 Oct 2010
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Karost
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I agree with arlissa. I �m not a native speaker but my boyfriend is from Missouri and he pronounces it as /often/ and so do his friends and family. |
14 Oct 2010
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dawnmain
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Im from the north of England and I say /oftin/ - whatsmore I really dislike to hear (ofin/.
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14 Oct 2010
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sldp
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Hi
In the North where I worked as an assistnt /often/
in the South where I worked as an au pair /ofen/
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14 Oct 2010
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valentinaper
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How surprising! 
I always tell my students to pronounce it /ofen/ because I was taught this way. And now I can see that most native speakers opt for the other pronounciation!!!
Thank you for bringing this matter up, mariflo!!
Valentina |
14 Oct 2010
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ldthemagicman
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I �m British English, from the north.
I generaly say �often � but lots of people say �ofen �. I teach that both forms are correct.
Some people, who appear to come from the south, say �orfen �.
Les |
14 Oct 2010
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edrodmedina
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Orfen???? Hey Les isn �t that a parentless child?? |
14 Oct 2010
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ldthemagicman
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Perfectly correct, Ed! If you �ve seen the Savoy Opera, "The Pirates of Penzance", by Gilbert and Sullivan, you �ll know that they get about six jokes out of that pun.
"Have you been an orphan?"
"Orfen!"
Les |
14 Oct 2010
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