Pronunciation of 'often'

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TheNewOne

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I often hear that the word "often" is pronounced as /ɔftən/ (mostly by Americans). My dictionary gives me the same transcription along with /ɔfən/. So what's the difference?
 

riquecohen

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There is no difference. You can choose the pronunciation you prefer. I don't know if the first option is used mostly by Americans. I use the second one.
 

Soup

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I often hear that the word "often" is pronounced as /ɔftən/ (mostly by Americans). My dictionary gives me the same transcription along with /ɔfən/. So what's the difference?
I use the second one, too. The first one I might use if I am being careful about the way I speak (i.e., in using emphasis).

Note that, the /t/ in /ɔftən/ is often not produced because to make the sound [t] you have to stop the air in your larynx/windpipe from flowing. The sound before it, [f], and the sound after it, [ə], don't stop the airflow. With those sounds, the air flows freely, continuously through your windpipe.

[ɔ'fən] has continuous airflow, whereas [ɔf'tən] does not: it requires more energy to produce, which is why the /t/ is often not produced.
 

Raymott

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I use the second one, too. The first one I might use if I am being careful about the way I speak (i.e., in using emphasis).
I've never heard it used this way ie. with a /t/ if you're being careful.
I say /ɔfən/ no matter how I'm speaking, just as I say /sɔfən/ for 'soften'.
 
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Janvandebreek

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Both are perfectly interchangeable, both in the US and UK, Australia etc.
 

curates-egg

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We knew, when I was at school, that those who sounded a 't' in 'often were NQTD, 'not quite top drawer'.
 

Tdol

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I was taught that it was 'wrong' to pronounce the /t/ and it was discouraged at my school, though some used it.
 

birdeen's call

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I've come across people who used either pronunciation.
 

EngFan

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I was taught that it was 'wrong' to pronounce the /t/ and it was discouraged at my school, though some used it.

Where was the school? and the teacher was a native english speaker?
 

curates-egg

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Where was the school? and the teacher was a native english speaker?
I was taught that in school, too. It was a school in the south of England, and all the masters were native speakers; all of them were Oxbridge graduates.
 
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