# American English Pronunciation that bugs the bejeezus out of me **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182 "2008-10-09T16:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/201 "2008-10-15T08:15:05Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Wow! I’m not alone on the _bring_ and _take_ thing.\*. It’s like _export_ and _import_… I tried to work it into my pun on Edinburgh above, but I sometimes hear these terms used interchangeably and incorrectly in the States. (I sometimes use them incorrectly myself in colloquial speech.) They are also sort of peculiar in that the stress is sometimes put on the first or second syllable depending on their use as a verb or a noun, as well as the persons’ location/dialect. For example: These im_ports_ are set aside for _ex_port. These ex_ports_ are set aside for _im_port. The scots imported their “O’s” to America. The Scots exported their “O’s” to America. (Though only one is correct, they both sound acceptable to my ears.) ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/202 "2008-10-15T08:23:18Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > It’s like _export_ and _import_… I tried to work it into my pun on Edinburgh above, but I sometimes hear these terms used interchangeably and incorrectly in the States. (I sometimes use them incorrectly myself in colloquial speech.) > > They are also sort of peculiar in that the stress is sometimes put on the first or second syllable depending on their use as a verb or a noun, as well as the persons’ location/dialect. > > For example: > > These im_ports_ are set aside for _ex_port. > These ex_ports_ are set aside for _im_port. > > The scots imported their “O’s” to America. > The Scots exported their “O’s” to America. > (Though only one is correct, they both sound acceptable to my ears.) I guess the stress is really dependent on case and plurality and what comes after the “port”, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/203 "2008-10-15T08:49:02Z")
I don’t live **in** Irving Street, I live **on** Irving Street. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/204 "2008-10-15T08:54:40Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > What a strange example, considering how often the T vanishes or is changed in America. My location is often prounounced A’lanah. With my food I need to order a glass of warder because the servers often do not understand me if I call it water. I’m sorry, I call shenanigans here. I have lived in places where I’ve been asked for water, wooder, warder, and even agua ferchrissakes, and I have to wonder where in the English-speaking world do they not understand the correct pronunciation of “water.” Joe ---
**Author:** ![Butterscotch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Butterscotch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Butterscotch)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/205 "2008-10-15T10:19:41Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > ‘Bring’ is towards the speaker’s starting location (bring the book to me"); ‘take’ is away from the speaker’s starting location (“Take the book home for me”, but also “I took the book home”: both speaker and book move away from the starting location. ‘Bring’ would be correct from the viewpoint of home, but not from the viewpoint of the shop where your sentence is spoken.I say ‘twenny, thirdy, fordy’ and I’m not even from the US (check my location). I think it’s a common feature of North American dialects.I don’t think I know anyone who drops the h off herb.I’ll say ‘Tyousday’ if you pronounce ‘laboratory’ and ‘secretary’ correctly. 😃 Do you say ‘at Tuesday’ as well? ‘Low-burrow’? 🙂 Do you have any idea how long I have been sitting here saying ‘laboratory’ and ‘secretary’?! I’m completely tongue-tied. How do you say them? And no, I would never say ‘at Tuesday’. I’ve never thought of that before! Still, I rarely say ‘on Tuesday’ either, I’m more likely to say ‘this//last/next Tuesday’. [Quote=GorillaMan] Originally Posted by Butterscotch I’m English and have some observations/questions: “Are you going to bring that home?”. No, I am going to take it home. What’s that about? Is that an Americanism? I’d have thought it’s universal, and also correct - Chambers agrees: “to carry or take something or someone to a stated or implied place or person”.🙂 [/QUOTE] No, sorry, I really meant that take is correct, well at least where I come from… I know many Americans who use bring instead of take. If I was with one of them at the library they may well ask ‘Are you going to bring that book home?’ when surely it should be take. I notice it a lot. **SlowMindThinking** I’m not sure how I can be ‘at’ the weekend, it just sounds right. Friday I will be at the park, but at the weekend I will be resting. Weird… Oh, and Loughborough: Luff-bra. All those silent vowels!! ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/206 "2008-10-15T11:18:58Z")
> [@Butterscotch](#): > > **SlowMindThinking** I’m not sure how I can be ‘at’ the weekend, it just sounds right. Friday I will be at the park, but at the weekend I will be resting. Weird… It sounds so wrong to me that when I encountered it in my textbook (while working as a TEFL), I posted a thread in GD to ask if it was a common British usage or just a typo, which was also a distinct possibility. Since then I’ve heard it a lot, though. I can’t imagine how I’d never noticed it until then - it really stands out as sounding weird to my ear. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/207 "2008-10-15T15:27:09Z")
I’m American and my complaint is about Americans… I am standing IN line at the bank I am ON line while at my computer. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/208 "2008-10-15T15:32:21Z")
Can I just say that, I’m not sure whether it’s US or UK in origin (but I suspect US) that this new thing of “talk to _this issue_” shits me up the wall. You talk to a person, you talk _about_ an issue. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/209 "2008-10-15T15:35:52Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’m American and my complaint is about Americans… > > I am standing IN line at the bank > > I am ON line while at my computer. Unless you’re from New York City and surrounding areas. Then you’re on line at the bank and standing in your car at the curb. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/210 "2008-10-15T15:42:15Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’m American and my complaint is about Americans… > > I am standing IN line at the bank > > I am ON line while at my computer. “Let’s go to Vegas _on_ Saturday.” “I thought we were doing that _in_ November?” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/211 "2008-10-15T15:50:06Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’m American and my complaint is about Americans… > > I am standing IN line at the bank > > I am ON line while at my computer. “I am standing on line” is New York dialect. It’s been around a lot longer than computers. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/212 "2008-10-15T16:17:48Z")
Here’s a question: Is “I could care less” an American construction? I honestly don’t think I’ve seen anyone other than Americans use it. Tell a lie, I think I might have seen a few Canadians use it as well. I firmly believe that anyone who uses that rather than “I couldn’t care less” needs beating about the head with a shovel. As I’m sure all right-minded people, regardless of nationality, agree. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/213 "2008-10-15T16:25:34Z")
I think sometimes these letters settle in shipping from one side of the ocean to the other. Maths/sport -\> Math/sports Orientated/obliged -\> oriented/obligated ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/214 "2008-10-15T20:08:47Z")
> [@Butterscotch](#): > > Do you have any idea how long I have been sitting here saying ‘laboratory’ and ‘secretary’?! I’m completely tongue-tied. How do you say them? ‘LAB-ra-TOR-ee’ and ‘SEK-re-TAIR-ee’. Both four syllables (we lose the first O in ‘laboratory’. I’ve heard some British people say ‘la-BOR-a-tree’ and SEK-re-tree’. > [@Butterscotch](#): > > Oh, and Loughborough: Luff-bra. All those silent vowels!! Wow. That is so totally _not_ what I expected. > [@devilsknew](#): > > The scots imported their “O’s” to America. > The Scots exported their “O’s” to America. Both of those are correct; in the first case, the Scots are in America, and in the second case, they aren’t. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/215 "2008-10-15T20:14:26Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > ‘LAB-ra-TOR-ee’ and ‘SEK-re-TAIR-ee’. Both four syllables (we lose the first O in ‘laboratory’. I’ve heard some British people say **‘la-BOR-a-tree’ and SEK-re-tree’.** > > Wow. That is so totally _not_ what I expected.Both of those are correct; in the first case, the Scots are in America, and in the second case, they aren’t. 🙂 Don’t forget week-END too ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/216 "2008-10-15T20:25:16Z")
> [@jtsPimp](#): > > The most annoying experience “language” wise for me while I lived in the States (I’m from Northern Ireland), was when someone rided me for my pronounciation of the word “record”. > > I’ll say no more, you know what I mean! At least you can be glad that what was once most widespread use of the word–as in the physical object used to carry “albums” of music–has become practically obsolete. I don’t think the word has any currency now outside of business, professional, and official language. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/217 "2008-10-15T20:37:10Z")
Hmm, I still call them albums. A collection of songs. I know others who do as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/218 "2008-10-15T20:42:46Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Hmm, I still call them albums. A collection of songs. I know others who do as well. Yes. ‘Album’ has nothing to do with the format. Come to think of it, we also say, ‘photo album’, don’t we? If I want to say that the music was recorded on vinyl or CD or as an MP3 file or whatever, I’ll say that. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/219 "2008-10-15T20:57:38Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I am standing IN line at the bank I always thought that “standing on line” was a British-ism. 😕 I hear it a lot in their movies and tv shows, and almost never in the US. > [@](#): > > And to our neighbors across the pond. How is mischievous pronounced over there? Besides me and I think one other guy most Americans pronounce it > mis-chee-vee-us. I’m not sure how else you would pronounce that? Do you leave out the final “ee” sound? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182/220 "2008-10-15T20:58:36Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Yes. ‘Album’ has nothing to do with the format. Come to think of it, we also say, ‘photo album’, don’t we? There’s a reason for that. The original “record albums” literally were “albums.” There was a series of pockets, each bound at the spine and each housing a vinyl disc, and you turned them exactly as you page through a photo album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-english-pronunciation-that-bugs-the-bejeezus-out-of-me/467182.md?page=12)