The 2 C's rule

[nq:1]Is it true that when two C's are next to each other in a word, you pronounce the first "C" ... as an "S"? Could some please clarify this for me and perhaps elaborate on the specifics of the rule? Thanks.[/nq]
The succinct and accurate answer is "no".
Don
Kansas City

[nq:1]Is it true that when two C's are next to each other in a word, you pronounce the first "C" ... as an "S"? Could some please clarify this for me and perhaps elaborate on the specifics of the rule? Thanks.[/nq]
There are words with a double-c that follow that pattern, and there are also many that don't.
Examples of K + S:
accent
accept
accident
success
vaccine
E

Donna Richoux filted:
[nq:2]Is it true that when two C's are next to ... and perhaps elaborate on the specifics of the rule? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:1]There are words with a double-c that follow that pattern, and there are also many that don't. Examples of K + S: accent accept accident success vaccine[/nq]
Some of these, apparently the ones where the accented syllable follows the double-C, ar

Donna Richoux:
[nq:2]Examples of K + S: accent accept accident success vaccine[/nq]
[nq:1]Some of these, apparently the ones where the accented syllable follows the double-C, are pronounced by some people with the S sound only..r[/nq]
"Flaccid" is pronounced by some peopel with K+S and by others with S alone, and is accented on the first syllable in either case.
Mark Brader, Toron

[nq:1]It looks like the usual rule about C applies: if it's followed by an E or I, it's a "soft" C, like S. If it's followed by an A, O, or U, it's a "hard" C, like K.[/nq]
There are a couple of exceptions: soccer & (British slang) baccy.

Oddly, with gg there are exceptions in the other direction: exaggerate and (in some dialects) suggest.

Joe Fineman (Email Removed)

On 02 Jul 2004 18:44:32 -0400, Joe Fineman
[nq:2]It looks like the usual rule about C applies: if ... A, O, or U, it's a "hard" C, like K.[/nq]
[nq:1]There are a couple of exceptions: soccer & (British slang) baccy.[/nq]
Some unknown number of people maybe most people like to pronounce "Celtic" ('kEltIk).
Then there's Richard Fontana's beloved "CINC", which surely must be pronounce

[nq:1]Then there's Richard Fontana's beloved "CINC", which surely must be pronounced (ki:Nk), since the two "C"s stand for "caught" and "cot".[/nq]
So you'd think, but I can tell that officially CINC is pronounced like "sink", and CIC is pronounced like "sick".

[nq:1]Is it true that when two C's are next to each other in a word, you pronounce the first "C" ... as an "S"? Could some please clarify this for me and perhaps elaborate on the specifics of the rule? Thanks.[/nq]
Aside from all the other replies, you'd be surprised how many cci words are actually Italian though. In which of course it's pronounced 'chi'.

Don't try it with words taken from Italian with no change in the spelling, e.g. focaccia. Fortunately, the Italian rule is simpler: before e or i, c or cc is /tS/; elsewhere, it's /k/.
[nq:2]There are a couple of exceptions: soccer & (British slang) baccy.[/nq]
recce. choccy biccy (some use -cc-; some prefer to use -ck-, which indicates the pronunciation better and, IMHO, is no worse at su

[nq:2]Some unknown number of people maybe most people like to pronounce "Celtic" ('kEltIk).[/nq]
[nq:1]What that remark lacks is a dash of humour to show that the writer knows it's absurd. "Some" indeed! "Like to" indeed! Of course "Celtic" is pronounced ('kEltIk) except in the case of the football club ('sEltIk). And "Celt" is ('kElt).[/nq]
What those remarks show is a lack of prop