In the asterisks thread, Daylate quotes a dirty 40’s ditty
Even when I was told that you’re supposed to pronounce the * as asterisk, it didn’t quite mesh for me…
Wait…
Asterisk.
Asterisk.
There’s an “sk” at the end there, not a “ck”.
I asked my mom, “How do you pronounce *?”
“Asterick.”
I asked my brother, “How do you pronounce *?”
“Asterick.”
What is that s doing there?
Does anyone say the last syllable as “isk”?
Yes, I do. Dictionaries confirm that “-isk” is the standard pronunciation, but, that having been said, I wouldn’t say there is anything wrong with your nonstandard “-ick” pronunciation (which is also mentioned in some dictionaries as such, the result of metathesis and re-analysis from the original pronunciation).
That is, metathesis caused “asterisk” to be pronounced as “astericks” by some, which was then in turn re-analyzed as the plural of “asterick” by some.
I’ve condensed this post into the above for no good reason
Only those who can read.
Knowledge of phonics helps.
Yep, I say Asterisk.
Come, now, don’t be so snarky. Just because a pronunciation doesn’t “match” the spelling doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it; this phenomenon is ubiquitous in English.
In fact, reflecting on it now, I might actually say “astericks” myself. Or perhaps “asterisk” and “astericks” interchangeably, in free variation. I’m in that state where it’s hard to tell, after being explicitly asked, what one’s typical unaffected pronunciation is.
Exactly. There is additionally the extremely common variation in how a word in pronounced in standard casual speech and how it is pronounced in isolation. Normal dialectual speech is practically a different language than classroom usage. All linguists know they have to carefully allow for this variation whenever saying anything on the subject of pronunciation. And they know that hardly anyone is self-aware of these differences unless they are specifically pointed out.
It is “Asterick” for me too and I work in IT so the word comes up pretty often.
I say isk as well. Always have. Mainly because it’s spelled that way, and I taught myself to read.
isk. And she didn’t flit, she frisked. Which makes the rhyme work.
Yes. I say “ASS-trisk.” There may be a subtle schwa between the “t” and “r,” but I elide it enough that it sounds like two syllables.
Ils sont fous, ces américains!
I blame the Gauls.
Better not ask the OP how he pronounces obelisk…
I have never heard -ick or -icks. Perhaps this pronunciation is only found in the US?
rhymes with
Getafix
Cacofonix
vitalstatistix
I have always said and heard “asterisk” and if I ever heard someone say “asterick” my opinion of that person would take a dive. Why do you aks?
Well, since you aksed…
I’ve always pronounced it “asterisk” myself, just like it’s spelled. I’ve heard plenty of people pronounce it “asterix”—whether because they didn’t know any better, or had trouble with the “sk” sound, or were confusing it with the French comic character, I’ve never known. I don’t remember ever hearing anyone say it “asterick.”
(FWIW, in case it’s a regional thing, I grew up in and still live in central Illinois.)
ETA: In computer contexts, it’s pronounced “splat.”
It’s pretty common in the US, I’d say (at least, I’ve heard it a lot), but the Standard American English pronunciation is as it’s spelled, ending in -isk. I first heard (read?) the rhyme this way:
Pretty Mary donned her skates,
and on the ice to frisk.
Wasn’t she a silly girl,
Her little *?
I side with the -isk people. But then again I pronounce the first “D” in Wednesday, and the first “R” in February. My Scottish heritage won’t allow me to do otherwise.
Oh, also the “th” in clothes. You uncouth North Americans really should pay attention to detail. 