pronunciation of address and multi-

[jennycullen]

HI!I have two questions.
1.Normally we pronounce the 'a' part in 'address' same as the 'a' in 'about',right? Then why do I sometimes hear it pronounced as the 'a' in 'apple'? Has the meaning changed?
2.How do you pronounce 'multi-',especially the 'i' part?

Thanks a lot

 

[Leandro-Z]

it is pronounced like this: /mùltee/​

 

[BobK]

HI!I have two questions.
1.Normally we pronounce the 'a' part in 'address' same as the 'a' in 'about',right? Then why do I sometimes hear it pronounced as the 'a' in 'apple'? Has the meaning changed?
2.How do you pronounce 'multi-',especially the 'i' part?

Thanks a lot

I used to think this was a simple Am/Br Eng issue: Br Eng puts the stress on the second sylllable of 'address', which as the first syllable is unstressed, reduces the 'a' to /ǝ/. I thought Am Eng put the stress (always) on the first syllable, which makes it /æ/.

Likewise, although there's no change in stress, Br Eng /'mʌlti:/; Am Eng /'mǝltaɪ/ (or something like that -I'm useless at American vowel sounds

But I think this generalization is shaky. I know some Am English speakers who put the stress on 'address' in the Br Eng way.

b

 

[thatone]

In AmE /əˈdrɛs/ is the primary pronunciation and /ædrɛs/ the secondary.
Words like multi, semi, anti can be pronounced both ways, but are usually /-aɪ/ in BrE and /i/ in AmE.

 

[5jj]

In AmE /əˈdrɛs/ is the primary pronunciation and /ædrɛs/.
Words like multi, semi, anti can be pronounced both ways, but are usually /-aɪ/ in BrE and /i/ in AmE.

Your first line is unclear, and I think you've got it the wrong way round in the second.

 

[jennycullen]

Thank you all! Now I understand.I thought it was an AmE and BrE issue and I just don't know how to differentiate them.