I see the words used synonymously in most literature (usually consistently one or the other, though). But I can’t ever remember hearing it pronounced any other way than mow-teeve’ or mow-teef’. From dictionary.com:
Nice.
So which is it? And why? And would “motives” or “motifs” be the plural of “motif”?
I am having a hard time following your question. They are two completely different words that are spoken somewhat similarly but not exactly the same. The correct pronunciation matches their spelling closely.
They aren’t synonyms or even related. Am I missing something?
I agree with Shagnasty. I wouldn’t really consider the two words synonomous. I think they’re easily distinguishable in pronunciation:
*Motif * - the f is sounded and the vowel sound is a longer, double e sound, rhyming with “reef”
*Motive * - the v is sounded and the vowel sound is a shorter, i sound, rhyming with “give”
For the plural of *motif * I’d write motifs.
See also leitmotif.
In ordinary, everyday English, yes: the second syllable of each word is pronounced differently, and they are not used synonymously. I’m saying that, in my experience, when people are speaking specifically of music:
Written: the words are treated as synonyms
Spoken: the pronunciation of the second syllable always has a long ‘e’
Again: my experience, which is neither limited nor extensive. Am I hearing things? Possibly. Maybe people really just saying “motif” all the time and I’m imagining the rest… :dubious:
I believe that “motive” is simply the translation for “motif.”
I have never heard anyone knowledgeable speak of music and call it motive, always motif. Maybe that’s just my own ear speaking. (If that makes sense.)
Wikipedia simply thinks “motive” is an alternate spelling.
I’ve got a suspicion that I end up pronouncing it ‘motive’, when I actually mean (and would spell) ‘motif’. The Cambridge dictionary agrees.