CONtribute or conTRIbute?

Question

Hi,(1) Is it true that most BE speakers say "to CONtribute" and "to DIStribute"?(2) EXQUISITE -  is it true that in this word the accent is on the first syllable in BE and on the second one in AE?mus-te

Philip · Accepted Answer

I hear stress on the first or second in exquisite in America. [ I stress the first. ]
As for the other two words, the American stress is on the second syllable. I can't comment on the British.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Understood. Thanks!

If you could also comment on (the pronunciation of) the adjective "mischievous"?
I am aware that the "dominating" American stress is on the second syllable (correct me if I'm wrong here), but not sure if you career English teachers use this "simplified" pronunciation yourselves

?

I was listening a VOA special English recording the other week, and it really surprised me to hear the reader pronouncing the word as misCHIEvous.

Would it be correct to say that educated English speakers still prefer the "standard" pronunciation (i.e.MISchievous)?

On a slightly different note.
In BE, is the pronunciation misCHIEvous common/ever heard?

mus-te

CalifJim · Answer

MUSCOVITE(1) Is it true that most BE speakers say "to CONtribute" and "to DIStribute"?

I can't confirm that most do, but I have certainly heard more than one say them like that.

MUSCOVITE(2) EXQUISITE - is it true that in this word the accent is on the first syllable in BE and on the second one in AE?

I've heard it both ways in the U.S. I don't know about BrE.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

MUSCOVITE"mischievous"

In AmE you have the correct pronunciation: MISS-chi-vuss

And the incorrect pronunciation: miss-CHEE-vee-uss (extra syllable)

It's almost gotten to the point that you hear the incorrect pronunciation more often than the correct one. Maybe it's even passed that point.

CJ

Philip · Answer

CalifJimAnd the incorrect pronunciation: miss-CHEE-vee-uss (extra syllable)It's almost gotten to the point that you hear the incorrect pronunciation more often than the correct one. Maybe it's even passed that point.

Alas, I think it has passed that point. The same with heinous. (I even had a college prof of psychology mispronounce it back in 1962!)

CalifJim · Answer

PhilipThe same with heinous.

And af-FLU-ent drives me nuts, though you'll hear it all the time. It's always been AFF-lu-ent for me (and the audio on Merriam-Webster's site).

CJ

CONtribute or conTRIbute?

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