VH1 recently had a special on the making of Dark Side of the Moon, and Roger Waters pronounced the word saxophonists as “sax-OFF-uh-nists”. I have never heard this pronounced this way, and was wondering if this is a common pronunciation in a part of the UK or elsewhere, or if it is just a personal quirk?
I’ve only ever heard it pronounced like that. Maybe it’s a British thing.
Aussie here and I can’t think of any other way to pronounce it.
SAX-o-phone-IST…surely not.
SaxOFFonist where I am too.
I guess it’s illogical, but it’s what we all say over here.
In America sometimes you hear SAX o phone ist.
But mostly you don’t hear it at all. :dubious:
This puts me out, because I happen to be one.
Interesting- I guess this is the only time I’ve heard someone from the UK say the word.
Fourthed. We’d say “telephonist” much the same way (a proparoxytone, for the technically minded).
Sax-o-mo-phone-ist.
[QUOTE=don’t ask]
Aussie here and I can’t think of any other way to pronounce it.
SAX-o-phone-IST…surely not.
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In the United States, we say SAXophonist. Like TAXidermist.
SAXophonist in canada
[QUOTE=acsenray]
In the United States, we say SAXophonist.
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I say “sax player.”
[QUOTE=percussion]
SAXophonist in canada
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Not in this part of Canada. All my musician friends either say sax player, or saxOFFonist. They say SAXophone, however.
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew]
I say “sax player.”
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I say “waste of stage space.”
(I’m just kidding.)
Maybe the stress on the second syllable derives from association with the word “cacophony.” 
“Kill the sax player!”
I am one… so I pronounce it “Bad Ass”.
Wow, I never realized there were multiple ways to pronounce it. I’ve always heard it “Saxophone-ist” with the first part sounding exactly like the instrument. Like violinist. Or would the British say viOHlinist?
[QUOTE=OpalCat]
Or would the British say viOHlinist?
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No! However, at least this thread has proved that American domination of everything isn’t yet complete 
… I cannot recall ever hearing ‘SAX-ophonist’, ever. Seriously.
And also seriously, how do Americans pronounce ‘chiropodist’? (It’s about the only other case I can think of where the pronunciation in this version could vary in such a way)
[QUOTE=GorillaMan]
No! However, at least this thread has proved that American domination of everything isn’t yet complete … I cannot recall ever hearing ‘SAX-ophonist’, ever. Seriously.
And also seriously, how do Americans pronounce ‘chiropodist’? (It’s about the only other case I can think of where the pronunciation in this version could vary in such a way)
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We don’t use that word here 
- seriously, I’ve never heard anyone use it.
aluminum and schedule though, I think the UK way of pronouncing should be used here.
[QUOTE=GorillaMan]
And also seriously, how do Americans pronounce ‘chiropodist’? (It’s about the only other case I can think of where the pronunciation in this versiocould vary in such a way)
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Kir-OPP-o-dist