[General] Phonetics of letter I

Hello,

Is there any explanation on why on the word divisive, for example, the first I is pronounced as I and the second as ai and the third as I again?
DI-VI-SI-ve

It's a nightmare in my life! Every time I come across a new word, when I'm reading, I just don't know how to pronounce it.

Thank you.

That's English. We have borrowed so many words from other languages, and have undergone many shifts in pronunciation across the ages that this is always difficult.

Then throw in that these types of things can change based on dialect as well.

If it's any consolation, native speakers are sometimes confused as well. The first time I saw words like "lamentable" or "hegemony" I butchered their pronunciation.

I usually pronounce the second i as capital I.

BrunaBC said:

Hello,

Is there any explanation on why on the word divisive, for example, the first I is pronounced as I and the second as ai and the third as I again?
DI-VI-SI-ve

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You can pronounce that one with a long or short I in the second syllable. Barack Obama always does, as do many others. Unlike the previous occupant of his office, he rarely mispronounces words.

GoesStation said:

You can pronounce that one with a long or short I in the second syllable. Barack Obama always does,

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What does he always do? Which is it?

Roman55 said:

What does he always do? Which is it?

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I must have drawn inspiration from Obama's predecessor when I wrote that sentence. Obama, in fact, pronounces divisive with three short Is. He has had ample opportunity to use the word during his administration.