# Pronunciations which are legit but sound pretentious to outsiders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939 "2018-11-03T18:17:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/81 "2018-11-04T14:46:43Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > It is found in Britain (a special case, I suspect – pronounced in the way that will rhyme) in the rude limerick: > > A pious young lady of Chichester > Made all of the saints in their niches stir; > And each morning at matin > Her breast in pink satin > Made the Bishop of Chichester’s breeches\* stir. > > \*pronounced “britches” There was a young vicar from Salisbury whose manners were quite halisbury-scalisbury. He went around Hampshire without any pampshire 'til his bishop compelled him to walisbury. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/82 "2018-11-04T15:07:44Z")
Again this is why y’all need to learn IPA The US poster is talking about [ænt] [ɑnt] as the alternative pronunciations of “aunt” The UK poster understands these to be the two pronunciations [ænt] [ant] “Haunt” to the UK poster is none of these vowels. [hɔnt] ---
**Author:** ![mundylion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundylion/32/3604_2.png) [@mundylion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mundylion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/83 "2018-11-04T15:51:10Z")
I know that the proper pronunciation of the flowering vine is klem-uh-tis but I feel like a jerk saying it that way so always refer to them as klem-AT-is. .A fun book is You’re saying it wrong… available in Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/84 "2018-11-04T16:01:16Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Again this is why y’all need to learn IPA > > The US poster is talking about > [ænt] > > [ɑnt] > > as the alternative pronunciations of “aunt” > > The UK poster understands these to be the two pronunciations > > [ænt] > > [ant] > > “Haunt” to the UK poster is none of these vowels. > [hɔnt] So which vowel does the UK poster use for “haunt” - and which vowel do I , a US poster, use for “haunt” . Because neither of the two pronunciations for “aunt” rhyme with “haunt” in my accent. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/85 "2018-11-04T16:04:22Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > ‘Herbs’ as ‘erbs’. I first encountered that in some Woody Allen film that revolved around Mia Farrow and unexpectedly efficacious Chinese medicine, and it wound me up every time I heard it (or should I say ‘eard it’?) which was of course All The Time. It has a H in it! Look! It’s right there! Honestly, it sounds like an honourable pronunciation to me. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/86 "2018-11-04T16:31:43Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > _Scent of a Woman_. Truman Capote and his rich friends were rubbing it in Robin’s face that he had to spend his Thanksgiving break being Michael Corleone’s seeing-eye dog instead of going skiing in Gdańsk with them. > > Or maybe they were going to spend Thanksgiving skiing in Vermont, and mockingly asked him if he would be joining them for Christmas in Gdańsk (no). Gstaad. Danzig isn’t exactly a ski destination. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/87 "2018-11-04T16:35:38Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > So which vowel does the UK poster use for “haunt” - and which vowel do I , a US poster, use for “haunt” . Because neither of the two pronunciations for “aunt” rhyme with “haunt” in my accent. Someone would have to actually hear all of you speak to be sure. But if you are American, and your vowels in “ant,” “aunt,” and “haunt” are different, but unlike British “haunt,” then you might have this distribution — ant — [ænt] aunt — [ɑnt] haunt — [hɒnt] or ant — [ænt] aunt — [ant] haunt — [hɑnt] The British speaker probably has — ant — [ænt] aunt — [ant] haunt — [hɔnt] or [hɒnt] A Midwestern US speaker probably has — ant and aunt— [ænt] haunt — [hɑnt] ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/88 "2018-11-04T16:45:59Z")
Pretentious?! _Moi_? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/89 "2018-11-04T17:28:34Z")
I keep hearing all these pretentious words in the voice of the character Patrice (Valerie Mahaffey) in the _Seinfeld_ episode _[The Truth](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697801/)_. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/90 "2018-11-04T17:44:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Niche - neesh. Makes me slappy. I am in Alabama and pronounce it “neesh.” Not sure I’ve ever heard it pronounced any other way. Actually, outside of myself talking about fanbases/hobbies/etc. with my sister, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it used except for in college and talking about “niche markets.” I’ve _read_ it plenty of times, but I’m not sure about hearing it spoken. Then again, it’s very possible it’s frequently used and I just don’t notice. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/91 "2018-11-04T19:09:01Z")
Years ago, I heard Orson Welles pronounce “drama” like “Gamma,” and thought it sounded incredibly pretentious. Today, I heard the same thing twice watching _ **Corner Gas** _. Do people in rural Sakatchewan really talk like Orson Welles? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/92 "2018-11-04T19:25:29Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Someone would have to actually hear all of you speak to be sure. > > But if you are American, and your vowels in “ant,” “aunt,” and “haunt” are different, but unlike British “haunt,” then you might have this distribution — > > ant — [ænt] > aunt — [ɑnt] > haunt — [hɒnt] > > or > > ant — [ænt] > aunt — [ant] > haunt — [hɑnt] > > The British speaker probably has — > > ant — [ænt] > aunt — [ant] > haunt — [hɔnt] or [hɒnt] > > A Midwestern US speaker probably has — > > ant and aunt— [ænt] > haunt — [hɑnt] As you say, **Acsenray** , I really ought to learn IPA. This whole “aunt” discussion has me feeling that – as they say in Ireland – “it’s worse it’s improving”. People who reckon “aunt” to rhyme with “haunt” in their part of the world – I recall coming across in reading: a colloquial version of a ghost, being a “haunt”, pronounced “wherever in the States”, “h’ant” – but do people in relevant parts of the US, use this last way-of-pronouncing also for “flaunt / taunt / gaunt”? Perhaps I’m being obtuse; but “brain-hurt-factor” increases for me, here. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/93 "2018-11-04T19:26:55Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Today, I heard the same thing twice watching _ **Corner Gas** _. Do people in rural Sakatchewan really talk like Orson Welles? 😕 Saskatchewan. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/94 "2018-11-04T19:39:25Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > As you say, **Acsenray** , I really ought to learn IPA. This whole “aunt” discussion has me feeling that – as they say in Ireland – “it’s worse it’s improving”. People who reckon “aunt” to rhyme with “haunt” in their part of the world – I recall coming across in reading: a colloquial version of a ghost, being a “haunt”, pronounced “wherever in the States”, “h’ant” – but do people in relevant parts of the US, use this last way-of-pronouncing also for “flaunt / taunt / gaunt”? If I understand correctly, the pronunciation you’re indicating, the answer is yes. This is the cot-caught merger — [Cot–caught merger - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cot%E2%80%93caught_merger) —possibly combined with the father-bother merger — [Phonological history of English open back vowels - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonological_history_of_English_low_back_vowels#Father%E2%80%93bother_merger) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/95 "2018-11-04T19:44:20Z")
Are you a fan of sweet onions? If so, the people who live in Vidalia would like you to know it’s pronounced vy-day-yuh. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/96 "2018-11-04T19:47:50Z")
In much of the country, all the low-back vowels have merged together—what you might understand as the AH sound, the AW sound, and the “short O” sound—no distinctions among them. In fact, there are people reading this post right now who have no idea that the “short O” could conceivably be different from AH or AW. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/97 "2018-11-04T21:18:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Brilliant bit, but “ignorant” is an adjective, not a noun. Or a verb, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/98 "2018-11-04T21:28:12Z")
I remember being taken to task by a guy when I tried to correct him on the pronunciation of “suite”. He pronounced it like “suit” instead of like “sweet” and accused me of being a snob. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/99 "2018-11-04T22:10:43Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Offhand I’d say I’m peevish about the word ‘Chocolate’. In my environs of my growing up, it was always pronounced more like “CHAWK-lit”. Whenever I heard someone from somewhere else say it “CHOCK-uh-laht” or CHOCK-uh-lut" I always thought it was pretentious as hell. > > ‘Pecan’ was always “Pee-CAN”, as in can of soda or whatever. When I heard a new friend’s wife say “Pee-CAHN”, I thought she was Mrs Hoitytoity. I have a tendency – in the absence of other guidance – to pronounce words with reference to their spelling. So “chocolate” would always be as in your second example. Never thought that was either pretentious or in any way out of the ordinary. I say “pecan” the way you do, and yes, “Pee-CAHN” would sound pretentious to my ear. I would tell the speaker that if she liked “pee-CAHNs”, I had a whole CAHN of them that I could open for her. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939/100 "2018-11-04T22:45:17Z")
> [@](#): > > I would tell the speaker that if she liked “pee-CAHNs”, I had a whole CAHN of them that I could open for her. Wow, would you sound like an asshole. I know we’re talking about words that sound pretentious to the ear, but I’m really surprised that so many people here don’t just think “oh, variant pronunciation” - especially for one that most people _know_ are pronounced differently in different regions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciations-which-are-legit-but-sound-pretentious-to-outsiders/823939.md?page=6)