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MUSCOVITE Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

wagon - unusual pronunciation?

Hi,

I was listening to a podcast (for English learners) this morning and I noticed the reader was (repeatedly) pronouncing the word 'wagon' as [weigon].

I just checked a few 'solid' online dictionaries. All of them claim the first syllable in 'wagon' should sound exactly as the first syllable in 'wagtail' does.

Also, one technical question. How do I attach a small audio file to my "text post"?

thank you!

mus-te
  

Top answer

I don't understand your phonetics. You have "gon" for the second syllable, and it should be a schwa. You are right in your "wagtail" description of the first syllable.

— Enoon

  • I don't understand your phonetics.
  • You have "gon" for the second syllable, and it should be a schwa.
  • You are right in your "wagtail" description of the first syllable.
  • Do you pronounce "w" and "v" differently?
  • Are you sure the reader was saying the word "wagon" and not some other word?
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5 Answers
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I don't understand your phonetics. You have "gon" for the second syllable, and it should be a schwa. You are right in your "wagtail" description of the first syllable. Do you pronounce "w" and "v" differently? Are you sure the reader was saying the word "wagon" and not some other word? WAY-g'n is a bizarre mispronunciation, if that's what you meant. What was the context?

P.S. - I tried at
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Thanks for the quick response, enoon!
enoonYou have "gon" for the second syllable, and it should be a schwa
Yes, it should have been a schwa in the second syllable of course ... I must confess I just don't know how to "depict" a schwa correctly (when limited to the usual English alphabet).... I notice you use an apostrophe for a schwa ....well, I will follow sui
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OK, that clinches it. The reader said "wagon". He probably had a strong twang in his speech. Certain midwestern and southern accents pronounce "head" almost like "hayed", with almost two syllables. Listen to an interview with Reba McEntire. She says "aim" for "am" and "thank" for "think".

Don't use an apostrophe for schwa; nobody will know what it is. I made that up myself right then. Let
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You can use a schwa in your post by clicking the 'omega' icon (the one before the emoticon icon) amongst the icons above the message box and choosing that symbol:

?

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enoon:
Mister M.:

Thank you!
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