I posted this on another thread, but no one ever replied. I pronounce longer and wronger as /lANg@`/ and /rAn@`/ thus they don't rhyme. They don't rhyme despite the fact that there both comparatives of words that do rhyme. Does everyone else do this too?
longer and wronger
For me it's "more wrong" so they don't rhyme but if I had to pronounce "wronger" I'd say /rON.@/ whereas "longer" I pronounce as /lON.g@/. Odd isn't it?
I pronounce "longer" as ["lQNg@`], with a plosive [g]; and I suppose I would pronounce "wronger" as ["r\QN@`], without a plosive [g]. However, as in the case of Jim, the comparative of "wrong" in my speech is "more wrong".
As for why, I'd guess that our pronunciation of "longer" comes from a time when words like "long" ended in [Ng]. We dropped the [g] in the base form "long", but we kept it in some word-medial positions like "longer". "Wronger", on the other hand, I suspect to be a more newly created word, in which you take the modern base form "wrong" (ending in simple [N]), and just put "er" on it. Or in other words (disregarding the issue of what vowel these words use), my hypothesis would be:
OLD FORMS
"long" ["lQNg], from whence "longer" ["lQNg@`]
"wrong" ["r\QNg]
NEW FORMS
"long" ["lQN]
"wrong" [r\QN], from whence "wronger" ["r\QN@`]
As for why, I'd guess that our pronunciation of "longer" comes from a time when words like "long" ended in [Ng]. We dropped the [g] in the base form "long", but we kept it in some word-medial positions like "longer". "Wronger", on the other hand, I suspect to be a more newly created word, in which you take the modern base form "wrong" (ending in simple [N]), and just put "er" on it. Or in other words (disregarding the issue of what vowel these words use), my hypothesis would be:
OLD FORMS
"long" ["lQNg], from whence "longer" ["lQNg@`]
"wrong" ["r\QNg]
NEW FORMS
"long" ["lQN]
"wrong" [r\QN], from whence "wronger" ["r\QN@`]
"Wronger" is a word?
If so, I've never had the opportunity to say it, so I can't answer that question!
If so, I've never had the opportunity to say it, so I can't answer that question!
<<"Wronger" is a word?
Yes, "wronger" http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=wronger&btnG=Google+Search is a word.
Yes, "wronger" http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=wronger&btnG=Google+Search is a word.
I'm from Georgia, U.S. and I pronounce them /lAN.g@`/ and /rAn.@`/. Lazar's hypothesis is probably right.
<<I'm from Georgia, U.S. and I pronounce them /lAN.g@`/ and /rAn.@`/.>>
/rAN.@`/ not /rAn.@`/.
/rAN.@`/ not /rAn.@`/.
>> No one uses wronger. Don't use it in your speech or papers. <<
That statement is wronger.
That statement is wronger.