Do native speakers often just guess the pronunciation of even relatively common words? I recently asked a native whether it was "pree-mordial" or "prai-mordial", and he said that he didn't know, and that no one would notice or care which one you said. Is that true? So, do native speakers wing it all the time in pronunciation or what?
Do native speakers wing it?
Yes.
You could define a native speaker as someone who can always wing it.
You could define a native speaker as someone who can always wing it.
Native English speakers don't "wing-it". They pronounce words the way they were taught to say it or the way they've heard others pronounce them. If neither of those apply, then they base it on previously established patterns or similar sounding words.
For US speakers, the "pri" has the long 'i' sound, as in private, privacy, primate, primary, etc.
For US speakers, the "pri" has the long 'i' sound, as in private, privacy, primate, primary, etc.
Yes, native speakers wing it when confronted with words they either aren't familiar with or have encountered in print but never heard said out loud. Yes, jay is right in that there is also common words that have some variation in acceptable pronunciations, but there are also plenty of times when you just aren't quite sure where to put the stress or whether vowels are long or short, mainly in the more uncommon words.
That's a interesting question. Could I postulate there is no strong phonological difference between these two sounds?
I mean would a native understand someone saying "pree-mordial" instead of "prai-mordial"? What about other words?
I mean would a native understand someone saying "pree-mordial" instead of "prai-mordial"? What about other words?
<Native English speakers don't "wing-it".>
But:
<If neither of those apply, then they base it on previously established patterns or similar sounding words. >
That sounds like "winging it" to me, Jay.
But:
<If neither of those apply, then they base it on previously established patterns or similar sounding words. >
That sounds like "winging it" to me, Jay.
<<That's a interesting question. Could I postulate there is no strong phonological difference between these two sounds?
I mean would a native understand someone saying "pree-mordial" instead of "prai-mordial"? What about other words?>>
Those are separate issues. Just because we can understand doesn't mean there is no phonological difference.
I mean would a native understand someone saying "pree-mordial" instead of "prai-mordial"? What about other words?>>
Those are separate issues. Just because we can understand doesn't mean there is no phonological difference.
Of course native speakers wing it.....we all do and we more or less wing it through life anyway to some degree, and within reason of course.....life would be very difficult indeed if we had to pre-plan or ponder at length about anything we need to do or even say. Life is all about making mistakes and then learning from them.
As for the pronunciation of words - such as primordial - most people initially pronounce it the way they think it should be pronounced until they realise the generally accepted form which, in this case, is "PRY-mordial", at least here in the UK.
Maybe elsewhere in the ESW they pronounce it differently.
Brits who have gone to live in America, for instance, often take the easy option and use the American way of saying things in English if only to avoid either confusion or adverse comments of any kind from their new found colleagues, neighbours and friends....life is easier that way...when in Rome and all that kind of stuff.
As for the pronunciation of words - such as primordial - most people initially pronounce it the way they think it should be pronounced until they realise the generally accepted form which, in this case, is "PRY-mordial", at least here in the UK.
Maybe elsewhere in the ESW they pronounce it differently.
Brits who have gone to live in America, for instance, often take the easy option and use the American way of saying things in English if only to avoid either confusion or adverse comments of any kind from their new found colleagues, neighbours and friends....life is easier that way...when in Rome and all that kind of stuff.
Absolutely! Being able to wing it it virtually the definition of being a native speaker, n'est-ce pas?
By the way, if someone said "pree-mordial" I'd suppress a snigger.
By the way, if someone said "pree-mordial" I'd suppress a snigger.
Do keep in mind that "prim-ordial" is often heard (short i).
Doubtless that is the older pronunciation from Shakespeare's day and thus no laughing matter as to venerability.
Doubtless that is the older pronunciation from Shakespeare's day and thus no laughing matter as to venerability.
I always wing it, which sometimes ends in embarrassment. I still remember the first time I said "epitome" outloud without knowing the proper pronunciation. Yikes.
I pronounce those words wrong on purpose and I'm not ashamed of it. If you can't change the spelling, change the pronunciation.
CP:
<<I always wing it, which sometimes ends in embarrassment. I still remember the first time I said "epitome" outloud without knowing the proper pronunciation. Yikes.>>
That's interesting haha. I saw this word and I thought it was pronounced: "EH - pi - tome" but I checked the dictionary and it was in fact "i - PI - ter - mee"
For some reason, I'm glad that also native speakers sometimes make these kind of mistakes as well hahaha.
<<I always wing it, which sometimes ends in embarrassment. I still remember the first time I said "epitome" outloud without knowing the proper pronunciation. Yikes.>>
That's interesting haha. I saw this word and I thought it was pronounced: "EH - pi - tome" but I checked the dictionary and it was in fact "i - PI - ter - mee"
For some reason, I'm glad that also native speakers sometimes make these kind of mistakes as well hahaha.