0
Chunes Posted 21 years ago
Jokes, Puzzles & Riddles

Context-dependent Pronunciations

0 Here is the challenge: find a word that is pronounced differently depending on its context. I only ask two things: please omit inflections and please omit words with multiple pronunciations that are unaffected by context (words such as 01i00route02i00 - there exists no situation where it is preferrable to say 01i00root02i00 over d01i00). 02br
02br
00I will take the obvious one first: 01i00has02i00. 02br
02br
00"He has (hass) to drive to Chicago today." In this case, 01i00has02i00 rhymes with 01i00grass02i00. 02br
00"He has (hazz) ten dollars in his pocket." In this case, 01i00has02i00 rhymes with 01i00jazz02i00. 02br
02br
00Can you think of any more? I can't. 02i
0-
  

Top answer

0 I suggests "used": 02br 02br 00I used [ju:zd] two sheets of paper to write the letter. t. of use) 02br 00I was used [ju:st] to speaking fast.

  • 0 I suggests "used": 02br 02br 00I used [ju:zd] two sheets of paper to write the letter.
  • t.
  • of use) 02br 00I was used [ju:st] to speaking fast.
  • (accustomed) 02br 02br 00Other words are prepositions with strong and weak forms: 02br 02br 00But [b/\t] me no buts!
  • 02br 00I called him but he didn't answer.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
0 I suggests "used": 02br
02br
00I used [ju:zd] two sheets of paper to write the letter. (p.t. of use) 02br
00I was used [ju:st] to speaking fast. (accustomed) 02br
02br
00Other words are prepositions with strong and weak forms: 02br
02br
00But [b/\t] me no buts! 02br
00I called him but he didn't answer. (I canno
0
0 01blockquote
00there exists no situation where it is preferrable to say root over d10).12br
12br
10except in BrE, where it is the pronunciation of choice. 15012br
12blockquote
110id1
0
0and in this case as well;02br
02br
00i`ve read all the forms(read:as in red)02br
02br
00read the form and fill in the necessary parts(read as in seed)0-
0
Although I think it's correct to say dived, many people say dove (long o like cove), and dove (short o, like love), as in the dove (bird) dove (dived) from the sky.

Related Questions