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Kathy456 Posted 20 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

"Important" - 2 syllables or 3 syllables

0Hi,02br
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00I think "important" is a two-syllable word with the primary stress on the second & "-tant" should be pronounced as NT without any vowel sound.02br
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00However, I've noted that lots of (or rather, almost all) senior government officials in Hong Kong pronounce "important" as IM-POT-TANT on TV.02br
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00Could someone let me know :-02br
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001. which is the correct pronunication?02br
02br
002. if both're correct:-02br
02br
00a. which sounds more natural in daily conversations?02br
02br
00b. which sounds more natural in public speeches, if there's a difference?02br
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00Thanks.02br
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00Kathy0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 00However there are still two syllables before this: 'im' and 'por'0-

— Nona the brit

  • 02br 02br 00However there are still two syllables before this: 'im' and 'por'0-
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1 Answers
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0Hello,02br
02br
00I'd agree that the last syllable is usually pronounced as 'nt' in american English and is close to it in British English (just a hint of a schwa in there too).02br
02br
00However there are still two syllables before this: 'im' and 'por'0-
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