So, how do you pronounce Often? Do vote in the poll above.
I remembering Fraggle saying on another thread that the T is to be silent. Since I dont remember this being discussed in my English class, this was actually news to me. The fact is [I checked with my friends] most of us think that keeping the T silent is just an attempt by some smug people to try and pretentiously live up to victorian standards of language. I tested this myself by keeping the T silent in conversations with some of my close friends.
But before I continue, a bit of back-story is important here. The thing is, after game of thrones began [and kissed me with fire*] I became interested in British Tv and discovered some excellent series like Coupling, The Office, Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. I became an anglophile. I guess it was a combination of my weak voice and poor enunciation [read - misanthropic introvert and childhood bully magnet] and the promise of sounding like David Attenbrough or Stephen Fry [the only people other than Morgan Freeman whose voice any self-respecting God can accept in HIS portrayal] that started it, but I soon became obsessed with the british accent [as the rest of the world calls it; the Southern English accent to be precise]. So against the better judgement of everyone I know, I decided to phase into a british accent. Yes, it was just as embarrasing and pretentious at first as it sounds. But I had now gotten past the eye rolling stage so it was a bit surprising when this happened -
The result of this experiment was that it prompted eye-rolls for the first time in months and one of my friends [they haven't taken kindly to being called mates] actually used the phrase "Now that's just too much, your Majesty". So its going to stay Of-T-en for me. Btw, this idea of the silent words [in often, arctic, etc] being pretentious or at least an unnecessary rule seems to be almost exclusive to those under 30. I wonder why that is. Sms and internet chats influencing our perception of "proper" language perhaps? A similiar trend can be identified regarding the propriety of swearing too.
However, on closer inspection it does make sense to keep it silent. After all, we all say Lis-en not Lis-T-en. This does beg the question as to why there is a T there in the first place? Was it inserted there by the medieval upper classes as a class marker so thay a commoner would say the T but they, with their private tutors and all, would know better?
So, in summary-
1. Do you say of-en or of-T-en? Why do you pronounce it the way you do?
2. Why is there a T in it if its supposed to be silent? [Can ask that as a general question too about silent letters]
3. What is it supposed to be? Does this new trend amongst most of the youth as well as across much of popular media mean its now "right" to say Of-T-en? Or do the rules of the language dictate otherwise?
Ps.
* if you dont get that reference, the lord of the light's wrath shall befall you soon. Repent now, while you can; for the night is dark and full of terrors.
I remembering Fraggle saying on another thread that the T is to be silent. Since I dont remember this being discussed in my English class, this was actually news to me. The fact is [I checked with my friends] most of us think that keeping the T silent is just an attempt by some smug people to try and pretentiously live up to victorian standards of language. I tested this myself by keeping the T silent in conversations with some of my close friends.
But before I continue, a bit of back-story is important here. The thing is, after game of thrones began [and kissed me with fire*] I became interested in British Tv and discovered some excellent series like Coupling, The Office, Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. I became an anglophile. I guess it was a combination of my weak voice and poor enunciation [read - misanthropic introvert and childhood bully magnet] and the promise of sounding like David Attenbrough or Stephen Fry [the only people other than Morgan Freeman whose voice any self-respecting God can accept in HIS portrayal] that started it, but I soon became obsessed with the british accent [as the rest of the world calls it; the Southern English accent to be precise]. So against the better judgement of everyone I know, I decided to phase into a british accent. Yes, it was just as embarrasing and pretentious at first as it sounds. But I had now gotten past the eye rolling stage so it was a bit surprising when this happened -
The result of this experiment was that it prompted eye-rolls for the first time in months and one of my friends [they haven't taken kindly to being called mates] actually used the phrase "Now that's just too much, your Majesty". So its going to stay Of-T-en for me. Btw, this idea of the silent words [in often, arctic, etc] being pretentious or at least an unnecessary rule seems to be almost exclusive to those under 30. I wonder why that is. Sms and internet chats influencing our perception of "proper" language perhaps? A similiar trend can be identified regarding the propriety of swearing too.
However, on closer inspection it does make sense to keep it silent. After all, we all say Lis-en not Lis-T-en. This does beg the question as to why there is a T there in the first place? Was it inserted there by the medieval upper classes as a class marker so thay a commoner would say the T but they, with their private tutors and all, would know better?
So, in summary-
1. Do you say of-en or of-T-en? Why do you pronounce it the way you do?
2. Why is there a T in it if its supposed to be silent? [Can ask that as a general question too about silent letters]
3. What is it supposed to be? Does this new trend amongst most of the youth as well as across much of popular media mean its now "right" to say Of-T-en? Or do the rules of the language dictate otherwise?
Ps.
* if you dont get that reference, the lord of the light's wrath shall befall you soon. Repent now, while you can; for the night is dark and full of terrors.
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