[accent, spelling]

[wispfox]

I'm finding myself both amused and bemused to be apparently unable to decide if I want to be using the British spelling of words (eg 'humour' or 'humor'), and periodically not being able to decide which pronunciation I want to use for certain words.

Hell, sometimes I use different pronunciations _in the same sentence_, especially if I'm talking to someone who pronounces certain words differently than I would, but in a way that also makes sense to me. (or, worse, if it's a way I used to try to pronounce a word until I realized that no one around me did).

*shakes head* I'm _so_ glad I'm not trying to teach anyone English, because I'm confusing _myself_, here!

(for that matter, I've never been able to figure out if it's spelled 'gray' or 'grey')

Comments

[khavrinen.livejournal.com]

Hell, sometimes I use different pronunciations _in the same sentence_,

One of my favorite little snippets of Janet Kagan (http://users.inetcentral.com/erickagan/index.html)'s delightful first contact/murder mystery novel Hellspark (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812542754/qid=1097922993/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-6487084-9196744?v=glance&s=books) is the scene where Alfvaen asks Tocohl if it is "Hell Spark" or "Hell's Park" :

"That's a state secret," said Tocohl.
"That's a joke, Alfvaen," Maggy said, her prim tone making it sound much like a child's confidence, "Tocohl told me."
...
"Alfvaen, the correct pronunciation is to alternate the two pronunciations -- to use first one, then the other, even in the same sentence."
"How odd. Why?"
"For the same reason anybody does anything in any language; because."


I haven't kept an official count, but I think Hellspark is the book which I've re-read most often; though the ending is hardly a mystery any more, I just love the way she plays with words. When you can read the same scene for the fiftieth time and still end up giggling out loud, you know the author's doing something right...

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Hee! Nice. One of these days, I may even read that. At least, I'm putting it on my list of books to read. Sounds fun!