Something about pronouncing "au" and so on

Question

The fact is all more or less famous and realiable dictionaries shows words like AUDITION, TAUGHT, BROUGHT pronounced with a long O sound(like in WAR), but watching Hollywood movies I hear these words pronounced with a long "A" sound(like in GOT, HARD, LARGE) - can you help me? Which one is more correct in the modern American English?

MountainHiker · Accepted Answer

Manohonor,

The fact is all more or less famous and realiable dictionaries shows words like AUDITION, TAUGHT, BROUGHT pronounced with a long O sound(like in WAR), but watching Hollywood movies I hear these words pronounced with a long "A" sound(like in GOT, HARD, LARGE) - can you help me? Which one is more correct in the modern American English?

I would rearrange your words somewhat.

AUDITION, TAUGHT, BROUGHT - like got.

HARD, LARGE - are more similar to war.

English spelling and sounds are very difficult. As an example,

Ghoti could be "fish."

gh - enouGH
o - wOmen
ti - naTIon

You can learn more about [url="http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxwhat04.html"]ghoti here[/url].

If you use [url="/"]Dictionary.com[/url], then you can see their pronounciation guide. It seems reasonably good.

Perhaps others will join in and provide better guidance.

I think it just takes time and practice.

Good luck!

MountainHiker

CalifJim · Answer

Neither one is more correct, although dictionaries of American English usually provide phonetic transcriptions of the so-called Standard American English (Eastern American English).

In the Western dialect, the "au" sound does not exist as a separate sound. Wherever the Eastern dialect uses that "au" sound, the Western dialect uses "ah".

The line which divides the groups geographically is approximately the Mississippi River -- actually a little west of it.

Note, however, that because people move so freely now from one area to another, it is common to hear people speak either way in either geographical area.

Many learners find that speaking Eastern American English is slightly more difficult because of the extra sound, but the difference is difficulty is not great.

I have used the word dialect above quite loosely. The two varieties of American speech are not really different enough to be considered dialects. It may be more correct to say Eastern accent and Western accent.

Manohonor · Answer

You mean in the western accent the "au" sound is pronounced like in "how", and in the Eastern one like in "war". Or in the western one it is pronounced like in "father"?

CalifJim · Answer

Like 'a' in "father", which I'd write pseudo-phonetically as "fahther".

Western accent:

"daughter" sounds like "dodder" = "dahder".
"not" and "naught" are indistinguishable. (naht)

Neither accent pronounces "au" as in "how", except in German borrowings, e.g., jungfrau.

Something about pronouncing "au" and so on

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