Thursday, November 29, 2001, 21:45 GMT
"With" can be pronounced [with] or [wiTH], where [th] is the sound in "thin", and [TH] the sound in "this".
However, I've recently read in the Collins COBUILD English Dictionary for Advanced Learners that "with" can only be pronounced [wiTH] in phrases like "I'm with you" or "She's been with him".
I asked Raymond Weschler (webmaster at http://www.eslnotes.com) what he thought about this. Raymond is American.
Here is his answer:
----I think both are fine in all contexts, and in fact different speakers
use both. Individuals are always using slightly different pronunciations for
common words, especially if the difference is just a question of a consonant
being voiced or unvoiced (I've been made aware of the fact that I personally
say "if" as /iv/, which is not something I'm particularly proud of, but few
notice and none care).
However, I've recently read in the Collins COBUILD English Dictionary for Advanced Learners that "with" can only be pronounced [wiTH] in phrases like "I'm with you" or "She's been with him".
I asked Raymond Weschler (webmaster at http://www.eslnotes.com) what he thought about this. Raymond is American.
Here is his answer:
----I think both are fine in all contexts, and in fact different speakers
use both. Individuals are always using slightly different pronunciations for
common words, especially if the difference is just a question of a consonant
being voiced or unvoiced (I've been made aware of the fact that I personally
say "if" as /iv/, which is not something I'm particularly proud of, but few
notice and none care).