[Idiom] privacy

[viriato]

Hi all,

I'm trying to learn this language. I can read and understand it quite some well, but I need some help to write and especially to speak it.
I have a question about the pronunciation of the word "privacy"
I see this word is pronunciated in more than one way.
Should I pronunciate it as 'prix' or like 'primary'?
Thank you for any help.

v

 

[5jj]

The British tend to pronounce it as in 'prim', 'pretty';
The Americans as in 'price', 'private'.

 

[viriato]

The British tend to pronounce it as in 'prim', 'pretty';
The Americans as in 'price', 'private'.

Thank you, fivejedjon,
I suppose, then, we can consider correct, both styles of pronunciation.

Are there other words like this one, with double pronunciation?

On the other hand, english language has also many words with double orthography,
like:

• gray/grey
• center/centre
• colour/color
• humour/humor
• prise/prise
• realize/realise
• organize/organise
• apologize/apologise
• merchandize/merchandise

and any other *ize/*ise and any derivation of those words like
organization/organisation, etc.

v

 

[5jj]

Are there other words like this one, with double pronunciation?

Yes, far too many to list. Some examples are:

Privacy: the 'price' pronunciation is almost universal in America. In Britain, only 12% of speakers use this, 88% going for the 'prim' version.

Schedule: the 'sk' pronunciation is almost universal in America. In Britain only about 30% use this, though the number is growing. 70% still use the 'sh' version.

Controversy: virtually all Americans and 40% of Britons stress the first syllable, with 60% of Britons stressing the second syllable.

Adult: 84% of British and 12% of Americans stress the first syllable; 16% of British and 88% of American speakers stress the second.

Herb, the 'h' is pronounced by virtually all British speakers, but by only about 10% of Americans.

In many words ending in -ile, -ile rhymes with I'll in BrE. In AmE it has the schwa vowel we hear in the second syllable of thistle.

Some words are pronounced very differently by British and American speakers. The first syllable of lieutenant, for example is like 'left' in BrE, and like 'loot' in AmE.

Fun, isn't it?

Figures from Wells, J C (2008) Lonman Pronunciation Dictionary, Harlow:Longman

 

[Rover_KE]

Viriato,

'Privacy' never starts like 'pragmatic'.

I'll add to 5jj's list:

tomato

vase

either

Rover (not that one - it's my signature.)

 

[MrPedantic]

I suppose, then, we can consider correct, both styles of pronunciation.

We can consider both pronunciations correct; but you may want to consider a consistent use of (broadly speaking) either the AmE or BrE forms.

Best wishes,

MrP

 

[SoothingDave]

Don't even get started on aluminum/aluminium.

Aluminium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[viriato]

Viriato,

'Privacy' never starts like 'pragmatic'.

I'll add to 5jj's list:

tomato

vase

either

Rover (not that one - it's my signature.)

You are right, Rover,

pragmatic has a different sound, maybe I had to say: "primary"
Funny, I see vase has almost three different ways of pronunciation.

v

 

[viriato]

We can consider both pronunciations correct; but you may want to consider a consistent use of (broadly speaking) either the AmE or BrE forms.

Best wishes,

MrP

Do you mean, MrP, that AmE style of pronunciation, prevails, because there are a majority of people who speaks in that way?

Is there any sort of rules about English pronunciation or this topic is almost free of interpretation?

v

 

[viriato]

Yes, far too many to list. Some examples are:

Privacy: the 'price' pronunciation is almost universal in America. In Britain, only 12% of speakers use this, 88% going for the 'prim' version.

Schedule: the 'sk' pronunciation is almost universal in America. In Britain only about 30% use this, though the number is growing. 70% still use the 'sh' version.

Controversy: virtually all Americans and 40% of Britons stress the first syllable, with 60% of Britons stressing the second syllable.

Adult: 84% of British and 12% of Americans stress the first syllable; 16% of British and 88% of American speakers stress the second.

Herb, the 'h' is pronounced by virtually all British speakers, but by only about 10% of Americans.

In many words ending in -ile, -ile rhymes with I'll in BrE. In AmE it has the schwa vowel we hear in the second syllable of thistle.

Some words are pronounced very differently by British and American speakers. The first syllable of lieutenant, for example is like 'left' in BrE, and like 'loot' in AmE.

Fun, isn't it?

Figures from Wells, J C (2008) Lonman Pronunciation Dictionary, Harlow:Longman

Yes, it's very funny, indeed,

I'm using the site: dictionary.reference.com
to learn right pronunciation
and I think it teaches AmE pronunciation.:-?

v

 

[MrPedantic]

Do you mean, MrP, that AmE style of pronunciation, prevails, because there are a majority of people who speaks in that way?

Not quite. I meant that it may sound/look odd if you mix AmE and BrE pronunciations/spellings.

Best wishes,

MrP