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ArchivesPronunciation Alphabet Confusion
I checked out the site's guide for adding pronunciations but the 'o' sound I wish to highlight is written as 'AH', so I don't know how to write it as a pronunciation suggestion. A specific example, the name 'JOHN' is said to be pronounced 'JAHN' but that's only American English - surely any other pronunciation of the same name (with the exact same spelling) should also be included? I erred and suggested 'JON' then realized that with the pronunciation guide, that would sound like 'JONE/JOAN', which isn't right either. It's the same with 'BOB'. The site merely states 'English', but when a pronunciation is so obviously different, I believe the different options should be included even if both are technically English.
If you check out the page for 'THOMAS', there are two suggestions both toted as 'English' - I really feel differentiating between American and British English is relevant. Incidentally, one of the options is written 'TOM-as' which would result in the same problem I had with 'John' (it's not 'TOME-as').
In short, I would contribute the alternate pronunciation if I knew how to write it with the key provided.
If you check out the page for 'THOMAS', there are two suggestions both toted as 'English' - I really feel differentiating between American and British English is relevant. Incidentally, one of the options is written 'TOM-as' which would result in the same problem I had with 'John' (it's not 'TOME-as').
In short, I would contribute the alternate pronunciation if I knew how to write it with the key provided.
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Replies
If you are adding a pronunciation you can write it in IPA too.
This site's pron key is only useful as a rough guide. However, because of how it's defined (in terms of sounds found in common words), it should apply across English dialects.
This site's pron key is only useful as a rough guide. However, because of how it's defined (in terms of sounds found in common words), it should apply across English dialects.
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I'm with SilveryRow on this one. Unfortunately, the pronunciation of common words does differ on the US and UK sides of the Atlantic. Posters often comment that they would (or would not) use Barry for a boy "because it sounds like Beary", for instance. Not in British English, it doesn't. And I'm no expert on American dialectology, but I can't think of a USE word with the same o sound as in UKE Bob and Tom.
What I don't know is how much of a problem it is. IPA is perfect for folks with some knowledge of phonetics, but maybe they are the very people who wouldn't need that kind of help.
What I don't know is how much of a problem it is. IPA is perfect for folks with some knowledge of phonetics, but maybe they are the very people who wouldn't need that kind of help.
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