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Philip Posted 16 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

G-less strength

Can anyone identify pockets of the English-speaking community where the 'g' of the word 'strength' is ignored, giving us strennnth"? My guess is that it is largely an individual phenomenon.
  

Top answer

My guess is the same as yours, Philip. I've known individuals with that defect. As they were "native speakers" I assumed they suffered from some malformation.

— Avangi

  • My guess is the same as yours, Philip.
  • I've known individuals with that defect.
  • As they were "native speakers" I assumed they suffered from some malformation.
  • Possibly a lazy tongue.
  • ) Rgdz, - A.
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10 Answers
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My guess is the same as yours, Philip. I've known individuals with that defect. As they were "native speakers" I assumed they suffered from some malformation.
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PhilipMy guess is that it is largely an individual phenomenon.
I realize that this comment is of no help, but that's my guess as well. I have never heard of this g-less pronunciation being particularly characteristic of any particular region or social group, for example. Those who drop the g (which to my ear is actually close to a k in s
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CalifJim Those who drop the g (which to my ear is actually close to a k in sound) in strength drop it in length too, of course.
Exactly, an examle of assimilation. Because the 'th' is non-voiced, the voiced 'g' becomes the non-voiced 'k'.
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CalifJimThose who drop the g (which to my ear is actually close to a k in sound) in strength drop it in length too, of course.
If they are the same people who pronounce heightas if there were a final 'h', I would suggest that there might be something else at work here. But I make no accusations.
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Are you thinking of us New Englanders who remove the "r" from "cah" and place it on "Americur"?
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AvangiAre you thinking of us New Englanders who remove the "r" from "cah" and place it on "Americur"?
Absolutely not. That is regional and has very little to do with individuals.
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So I guess that leaves us with the assumption that people who say "heighth" are ignorant. Emotion: crying

(I hope that's still political
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Avangipeople who say "heighth" are ignorant.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Emotion: smile

I don't see the connect
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PhilipIf they are the same people who pronounce height as if there were a final 'h',
I took this as a humorous aside, with the operative word being "IF."
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CalifJimThe over-application of a rule is commonly seen in the speech of children: Mommy putted it in the cupboard. Daddy throwed the ball.
As they are learning their language, children (universally) attempt to make everything "regular", to fit what they have learned, until they learn differently, often by being corrected after making a mistake.
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