I would like to help in correcting certain commonly mispronounced words. Fortunately, it is never too late to learn, as English usage is a life-long challenge and I am happy to cast some light on our difficulties.Many Trinis have a problem pronouncing the letter "o" in all its variations, but especially in pronouncing the wide "o": they say "buddy" for body, "jub" for job, "muddle" for model, "dullar" for dollar, "gulf" for golf, "lorse" for loss, borse for boss, "gord" for God. Another "o" that is exaggerated is the "o" in police.
There is a difference in pronouncing certain words when used as different parts of speech, eg as nouns or as verbs:
As Nouns–stress the first syllable. As Verbs–stress the second syllable
Produceto produce
(from the farm)
Conductto conduct
A conflictto conflict
A contractto contract
A surveyto survey
A desert (Sahara)to desert
A presentto present
Advice to advise
–stress second syllable
Refuse (garbage)to refuse
An object or subjectto object,
to subject
Invalidinvalid
(adjective)
Pronunciationto pronounce
Apart from these, there are some words that come with blue lights flashing since they are the troublesome exceptions to the rule:The word forbid or bid when used in the past tense is spelled forbade or bade, but pronounced "bad," never bade. She bade (pronounced "bad") farewell to her friend.Another exception is broadcast, overcast or forecast with no "ed" added in the past tense–unlike stewed chicken, curried beef, fried rice and stuffed toys.
There are also tricky words that you would expect eg to have an "i" after "v," like "grievous"–but there is no "i." The correct spelling is: grievance or grievous, mischievous (no "i" after the "v") or after the "d"– students, not "studients".Please note also that the form of government upon which our system is based is another tricky word, as it is not "Westminister" –again there is no "i" after the "n"–it's just Westminster. This is very important for our officials to note.
It has amazed me how many people have asked me to point out as incorrectly pronounced the word character and, by extension, characterisation. It is being often mispronounced as chaRACter and chaRACterisation–with the stress on the middle syllable instead of, as it should be, on the first syllable–CHAracter and CHAracterisation.
Another problem: illegible (unclear handwriting) and eligible (fit or suitable), which some public speakers confuse. They misuse these words, which have such disparate meanings, by saying: He is considered illegible for membership, instead of eligible. Look at the spelling and be guided by it.
Please pardon my repeating that there are words which do not need an "s" at the end, even when plural: scenery, aircraft, underwear, deer; and the worst offenders, mine and with regard to (not "mines" and not "with regards to," please). One may say Regards to end an e-mail message, or Give my regards to your mother, but "with regard to" means "with reference to." Be careful also with homicide, (not home-icide) flim, doubtlessly (just doubtless will do), film.
Note also the stress on the first syllable of the word SALad, not salARD.Infamous is not in famous, it's one word, infamous.By the way, of and off are often pronounced incorrectly: of is supposed to be pronounced ov and off is off eg She came to the end of (ov) the wall and jumped off suddenly.
Words influenced by the Latin or Greek plural formation are as follows. Please don't add "s."
Singular Plural
Medium Media
Criterion criteria
Phenomenon phenomena
Special drum-roll! At the risk of being contrary, please note that the "h" is silent in the following words: the River Thames, the names Anthony, Thomas, Thompson.Under all other circumstances, however, the "h" coupled with the t– ie th, the most commonly mispronounced letters in Trini parlance.
This digraph– "th" –should be pronounced with the tongue between the teeth wherever it is used in words like three, thirty, healthy, wealth, whether at the beginning, middle or end of words. A mantra to say in practising this is: The tip of the tongue, the lips and the teeth.Those who already know and practise all these tips–you have been blessed. Others, please take note of reminders or any new information and pass it on.Have I included all the challenges? I am open to suggestions.