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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Than/then pronunciation
What's the general distribution of people who do, or do not, pronounce "than" and "then" identically in casual speech? Or is it simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?
John H
Yorkshire, England
John H
Yorkshire, England
Top answer
[nq:1]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do not, pronounce "than" and "then" identically in casual speech? [/nq] I think the problem is that there are many people who don't realise that the words are differently spelled. The distinction is of course a simple one ("than" is pronounced "dhan" or "dhn" while "then" is always pronounced "dhen") but it's not well taught in schools.
- [nq:1]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do not, pronounce "than" and "then" identically in casual speech?
- [/nq] I think the problem is that there are many people who don't realise that the words are differently spelled.
- The distinction is of course a simple one ("than" is pronounced "dhan" or "dhn" while "then" is always pronounced "dhen") but it's not well taught in schools.
- Adrian
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do not, pronounce "than" and "then" identically in casual speech? Or is it simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?[/nq]
I think the problem is that there are many people who don't realise that the words are differently spelled. The distinction is of course a simple one ("than" is pronounced "dhan" or "dhn" while "then
I think the problem is that there are many people who don't realise that the words are differently spelled. The distinction is of course a simple one ("than" is pronounced "dhan" or "dhn" while "then
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[nq:1]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do not, pronounce "than" and "then" identically in casual speech? Or is it simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?[/nq]
Maybe I'm careful with my diction, but I can't for the moment think of any circumstance in which I would pronounce "then" with a schwa. Moreover, I can't say that I've ever noticed others do it, eith
Maybe I'm careful with my diction, but I can't for the moment think of any circumstance in which I would pronounce "then" with a schwa. Moreover, I can't say that I've ever noticed others do it, eith
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[nq:1]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do not, pronounce "than" and "then" identically in casual speech? Or is it simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?[/nq]
There's one who pronounces them identically (when they're unstressed) in Northern New Mexico. Maybe a phonologist could tell the difference between my "than" and my "then", but I doubt whether anyone
There's one who pronounces them identically (when they're unstressed) in Northern New Mexico. Maybe a phonologist could tell the difference between my "than" and my "then", but I doubt whether anyone
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[nq:2]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do ... simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?[/nq]
[nq:1]There's one who pronounces them identically (when they're unstressed) in Northern New Mexico. Maybe a phonologist could tell the difference between my "than" and my "then", but I doubt whether anyone else could.[/nq]
Are you saying that both collapse to a s
[nq:1]There's one who pronounces them identically (when they're unstressed) in Northern New Mexico. Maybe a phonologist could tell the difference between my "than" and my "then", but I doubt whether anyone else could.[/nq]
Are you saying that both collapse to a s
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"Mark Barratt" (Email Removed) schrieb im Newsbeitrag
[nq:2]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do ... simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?[/nq]
[nq:1]Maybe I'm careful with my diction, but I can't for the moment think of any circumstance in which I would pronounce "then" with a schwa. Moreover, I can't say that I've ever noticed others do it, either.
[nq:2]What's the general distribution of people who do, or do ... simply down to care with one's diction, wherever you are?[/nq]
[nq:1]Maybe I'm careful with my diction, but I can't for the moment think of any circumstance in which I would pronounce "then" with a schwa. Moreover, I can't say that I've ever noticed others do it, either.
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[nq:2]Maybe I'm careful with my diction, but I can't for ... I've ever noticed others do it, either. Surely it would[/nq]
[nq:1]lead to misunderstandings?[/nq]
I have noticed in the past few years many instances of people writing 'then' when they mean 'than' (I assume, since that's what most of us would write). Many of the younger generation seem to learn their language via listening only,
[nq:1]lead to misunderstandings?[/nq]
I have noticed in the past few years many instances of people writing 'then' when they mean 'than' (I assume, since that's what most of us would write). Many of the younger generation seem to learn their language via listening only,
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[nq:2]There's one who pronounces them identically (when they're unstressed) in ... and my "then", but I doubt whether anyone else could.[/nq]
[nq:1]Are you saying that both collapse to a schwa when unstressed, or that 'than' doesn't?[/nq]
They both do, or if "then" doesn't quite, I suspect only a professional could tell.
[nq:1]I can't imagine an everyday sentence containing 'than' wher
[nq:1]Are you saying that both collapse to a schwa when unstressed, or that 'than' doesn't?[/nq]
They both do, or if "then" doesn't quite, I suspect only a professional could tell.
[nq:1]I can't imagine an everyday sentence containing 'than' wher
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