Over in GQ there are a couple of questions about the US/USA abbreviations for United States (of America). They got me thinking about something I’ve never thought to ask anyone. I think this is the most appropriate forum, trust it’ll be moved if not.
When I say “united” I pronounce it as though the word “nine” is tucked in there. So it sounds more like you-nine-ed. I don’t pronounce a “T” sound. I think I’ve done it this way my whole life. Same with the word “reunited”, definitely a “nine” in there, no T.
I don’t know why I do this and am wondering whether anyone else does, or if you know someone who does. When I try to make myself pronounce it correctly with that T sound in there, it both feels AND sounds wrong!
What is wrong with me, Dopers? Or is this pretty common?
You’re not alone, Lee. I don’t pronounce it this way myself, but I’ve heard it from others quite a bit, not so much since I moved to the East coast, but when I was in the Midwest? Oh, yeah.
I don’t necessarily think it might be common, more like allowing for the possibility… I suppose because, since I can’t think of any reason why I don’t pronounce it as written, and it’s not like there are lots of words for which I have arcane or odd pronunciations, I was thinking maybe it’s just a weird “who knows why” phenomenon that others experience too? I don’t know, that’s why I asked!
Also, it’s not something I think anybody would notice unless they were specifically listening for it and maybe not even then - if I pronounce it as I usually do and then the correct way immediately after, aloud, the difference to the ear is quite subtle, it’s not like I emphasize an N sound rather than a T sound. That part of the word is pretty "soft"the way I pronounce it. (I’ve never had anyone comment on how I say it, for instance.)
Well that’s a relief, at least! It did occur to me that it may be some sort of regional quirk, which I can’t easily confirm or dismiss at present because I don’t live in the place where I grew up and presumably developed this bizarre affliction. :eek: For the record, it wasn’t quite the Midwest in my case, it was mostly in and around Okla.
Yeah, I do realize. As I mentioned in a reply to someone else, it’s not really a thing I suspect is even noticeable; certainly no one has ever pointed it out to me, though maybe it’s not the kind of thing anyone would bother to comment on. Going forward I’m going to make myself say it the right way if for no other reason than it’s not everyday there’s something we can so easily “fix” right?!
Around here “probably” seems to be the one people have problems with. You can hear “probally” or “prolly” or “probly,” sometimes from the same person!! :eek:
I think you-nine-ded is pretty typical California pronunciation. For many folks the very de-emphasized “d” is more of a “t”. The second “n” in the “nine” part is also a bit de-emphasized.
It’s not a rare pronunciation at all. The OP is not weird, or at least not about that. But it is regional.
I’ve never heard it in any state where I’ve lived, which would be Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. But now it’s on my mind and I’m afraid I’ll say it.
I don’t have that particular problem, but apparently I can’t type the word “ratio” without tacking an “n” on the end. This was a problem when writing my (math-related) thesis, many years ago, and I had to continually search the document for the word “ration” and change it back.
I’m always pretty curious about the way people speak. OP, is there any chance you can record yourself saying it? Because I wonder if you’re actually describing a slightly different sound than [n]. Like maybe you’re nasalizing the /d/ or the vowel before the /d/.
Or those of you who say you’ve heard it before, can you maybe find a clip?
Finally, are there any other words that have this? Either in the OP’s accent or the people say they’ve heard it before?
Or is this pretty common?
