the sound "t" in "often"

[GeneD]

I've just read an interesting article (here) about the word "often" and the sound "t" in it. At the very end, they said the following: "The medial \t\ dropped out of many common words formed with -en, but came back in often. It is common today, but still stigmatized with the label ÷ in the dictionary; some educated speakers certainly do use it, but others consider it unacceptable. And they will often correct you".

Myself, I've heard the pronunciation with "t" often enough (even in some podcasts teaching English) to get used to it and to take it as perfectly acceptable. And now that article says that it can be considered wrong. Is this that serious? How do you pronounce this word? Do you consider wrong the pronunciation with "t"? What about other varieties of English? (Merriam-Webster is an American dictionary if I'm not mistaken.)

By the way, what does the division sign (÷) there exactly mean? It looks as if it divides the English speaking world into those who accepted the "t" and those who didn't.

 

[bubbha]

I don't pronounce it, and was taught as a child that it's improper to pronounce the t in "often". After all, the t is silent in "soften".

But it's very common these days, and I don't associate it with a particular accent, region, or educational level. I wouldn't call it "wrong"; I would classify it as a variant.

 

[Rover_KE]

I say 'offen', but don't care if somebody else says 'often'.

Thousands of words have been and will be written on this piffling little word. IMO, those with OCD about offen should get out more.

 

[Roman55]

Both pronunciations are acceptable in modern BrE, although I never pronounce the "t" myself, and don't like hearing it pronounced either. I would never correct a native speaker if their pronunciation was different from mine, I'd just cringe inwardly.

 

[probus]

Like Bubbha, I was taught as a child that the t in often is silent. My elementary school teachers were all very prescriptive.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

In southern Ohio, where I grew up, the T is silent. Here in northern New England, lots of people say the T. Either way is fine.

If you really want to kick up some dust, ask people about the R in February!

 

[GeneD]

If you really want to kick up some dust, ask people about the R in February!

I'm intrigued. Is an "r" omitted when some people say "February"?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Click on the speaker icon at https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/february

 

[GeneD]

Thanks, Matthew. I suspected that "r" after the "b" when Charlie hinted that something was "wrong" with the "February" (this part ("br") isn't very easily pronounced), but I looked for the pronunciation in the wrong dictionary. Your dictionary confirms my guess ([febjʊri]).

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'm intrigued. Is an "r" omitted when some people say "February"?

Of(t)en! But purists (like my wife) say we're wrong.

Oh, well. Maybe it's just another southern Ohio thing. I'd rather be wrong than say Feb-roo-ary!

 

[GeneD]

It's off-topic, but... Merry Christmas to all of you!

 

[Raymott]

Is that 'Chrismas' or 'Christmas'?

 

[bubbha]

Is that 'Chrismas' or 'Christmas'?

I have never heard the t pronounced in Christmas.

As for "February", I grew up in communities in which people didn't pronounce the r (probably under influence of the word January), so I pronounce it "FEB-yoo-air-ee". I remember some pedantic teachers insisting that the r should be pronounced, but they were the same teachers who insisted we use "whom" insread of "who", pronounce "wh" as "hw" instead of "w", and say things like "He is taller than I", so I dismissed them.

 

[Matthew Wai]

[...] isn't very easily pronounced

I found an adjective with a similar meaning.

Unpronounceable: difficult to pronounce.
Source: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/unpronounceable

Merry Christmas! Jesus loves you!