# Vocal samples thread: how do \*you\* say it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403 "2007-11-22T04:43:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/1 "2007-11-22T04:43:58Z")
In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=443965), a discussion about people using words without knowing what they really mean branched to include discussion of dialects. In order to save the other thread more of this discussion, I start this new thread. We had branched off into a comparison of how different people say things, like “don” and “dawn”. I say those two the same, others don’t. We ended up with some vocal samples, which **Telperien** and I linked to from various posts. **Cazzle** was also kind enough to send me some samples. I’m collecting them all here. “Poor”, “pore”, and “pour”. [Pronounced by **Sunspace**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/sunspace_ppp.mp3) [Pronounced by **Telperien**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/telperien_ppp.mp3) [Pronounced by **Cazzle**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/cazzle_ppp.mp3) “Marry”, “merry”, and “Mary”. [Pronounced by **Sunspace**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/sunspace_mmm.mp3) [Pronounced by **Telperien**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/telperien_mmm.mp3) [Pronounced by **Cazzle**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/cazzle_mmm.mp3) “Mary was merry as she married Terry, but then Scary Larry got carried away and chased Barry’s hairy dairy cattle through the ceremony.” [Pronounced by **Sunspace**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/sunspace_dairy.mp3) [Pronounced by **Cazzle**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/cazzle_dairy.mp3) “Don”, “Dawn”, “Aaron”, and “Erin”. [Pronounced by **Sunspace**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/sunspace_ddae.mp3) [Pronounced by **Cazzle**](http://www.sunspace.org/audio/cazzle_ddae.mp3) I’ve incorporated **Cazzles** ’s files, and tidied up the names and all to makes things less confusing. But I left the old files where they were, so that the links in the other thread wouldn’t be broken. So… anyone else got some interesting sentences? Anyone else want to contribute? ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/2 "2007-11-22T07:58:57Z")
Where I grew up, the pronuciation of such a common word as “dog” is my prime example. I can not get it to come out right no matter how I pronounce it to people, or to put it into phonetics; there is some kind of a sound there that just does not translate. It ain’t dawg. It ain’t dogue. It ain’t D’AU’gh (although that’s close). In fact, when I try to do anything else but just say it, it doesn’t come out right. Very frustrating. However, I guess it does serve as a kind of exclusionary term for Boggy Boys versus mere poseurs. (or however that word is spelt) ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/3 "2007-11-22T08:11:42Z")
My pronunciation would identical to Cazzle (except I’m a bloke), so I can’t contribute any new sounds. I will however, say I was surprised at the difference in pronunciation when listening to all 3 in quick succession. Wow! ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/4 "2007-11-22T08:39:48Z")
I have a problem with a couple of words. One is “roof.” Is it “rue-ff” or is it “rooph”? I switch between them. I avoid this word. I say “KOO-pon” and my husband says “KYU-pon.” Of course he also says “NUKE-u-lar” and it’s okay because Bush Fils says it thataway. I say “egg” while some members of my family call them “aiggs.” I never know whether Leslie is LESS-lee or LEZ-lee. Or whether I’m mailing an ENvelope or an AHNvelope. But…I’m a really good speller. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/5 "2007-11-22T13:06:44Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Anyone else want to contribute? [/QUOTE] I had thought of this when you initially linked your “about boot kraut” audio. I can PM you to an audio of my pronunciation; include it if you think it noteworthy. It’s a bit different. Re: “Aaron” and “Erin” - I’m not getting this in the above audio. Perhaps the file is cut off? Might just be my player. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/6 "2007-11-22T14:24:58Z")
_oops_ Slight technical problem. I overfilled my server’s disk quota while doing this. (Too much junk in the FTP directories…) [Sunspace.org](http://Sunspace.org) is not responding. I went in via SSH, cleared out a lot of things, and filed a support ticket to get it turned back on. Links should be back and working today. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/7 "2007-11-22T15:39:12Z")
I’ve been able to hear them, **Sunspace** , so they’re definitely working. Nice to hear your voice again! Not sure if I can suggest any more sentences, but if you need another voice, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/8 "2007-11-22T17:06:13Z")
They’re back. Website and ftp access working again. Now the whole _world_ can hear my voice! Bwa ha ha ha… 🙂 And I’m at home while the freezing from my dentistry wears off, so I can post more. More. _Morrrre!!!_ **Spoons** , if you’d like to contribute, I’d be honoured. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/9 "2007-11-22T17:18:54Z")
> [@](#): > > **Spoons** , if you’d like to contribute, I’d be honoured. I’ll see if I can put together a few things. Should we also try such things as the infamous “aboot” that we Canadians are told we say but we deny? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/10 "2007-11-22T17:39:03Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] I’ll see if I can put together a few things. Should we also try such things as the infamous “aboot” that we Canadians are told we say but we deny? [/QUOTE] Sure. A demonstration that we don’t actually say that would be great. And I got a message with samples from **NinetyWt** ; I’ll add those too. **NinetyWt** also suggests that maybe some of the linguistically-inclined would come up with sentences that would show off dialect differences? (Although the “marry, merry, Mary” and “Don, Dawn, Aaron, Erin” ones are pretty good at doing that already…) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/11 "2007-11-22T20:23:15Z")
Check your e-mail, **Sunspace**. I sent some speech files to the address listed in your SDMB profile. ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/12 "2007-11-22T21:59:26Z")
How about trying to work all the words (including the Canadian “about, boat, and boot” into one paragraph for people to read aloud? Something like Mary rarely rose at dawn, but did so on the day she was to marry Don in order to pore over details such as whether the weather would be fine or poor for taking pictures, who was to pour the wedding wines and pitchers of beer, and to be sure that her poor, overly merry cousin Aaron, visiting from Erin, would catch the last boat (a converted ketch) from the mainland and so would not arrive until about the time the honeymoon bags were put in the boot. That was so much fun that I threw in whether and weather, and catch and ketch. In fact I think I’ll record it now and email it to you, **Sunspace**. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/13 "2007-11-22T22:05:18Z")
[QUOTE=Fatwater Fewl] How about trying to work all the words (including the Canadian “about, boat, and boot” into one paragraph for people to read aloud? [/QUOTE] That’s brilliant. I was thinking along the same lines, but hadn’t quite got that far. :: **Sunspace** goes off to process audio and create a post for the samples he’s already gotten :: ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/14 "2007-11-22T22:32:15Z")
[QUOTE=Hilarity N. Suze] I never know whether Leslie is LESS-lee or LEZ-lee. [/QUOTE] My uncle Leslie pronounces his name LESS-lee and his daughter pronounces her name LEZ-lee. Does that clear it up for you? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/15 "2007-11-22T22:51:14Z")
What a great way to waste time 🙂 I’ve recorded [**Fatwater Fewl** ’s sample](http://www.owainsutton.co.uk/audio/sentence.mp3). It took a hell of a lot of takes, because reading steadily and clearly, classroom-style, brings out a noticable difference in my accent. Whereas I eventually got a conversation-speed reading. Which I’m finding fascinating to listen back to…I’ve no idea where the word between ‘and’ and ‘be sure’ has gone! It’s at ‘arrive’ that the local accent is evident with the ‘oi’ vowel sound creeping in. I’m aware of this precisely because it only appears in some words in my speech, not being a true local through family background, which is when people seem to have the strongest accents. Regarding name pronunciations, I get a different pronunciation and quite often a different spelling from various relatives in Ireland and (less so now they’re all dead) in Wales, and none of these bother me in the slightest. The only one that pisses me off is English people reading it out confidently, as if they know how to say it, and managing to mangle it into none of the recognised versions. ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/16 "2007-11-22T23:02:59Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] That’s brilliant. I was thinking along the same lines, but hadn’t quite got that far. :: **Sunspace** goes off to process audio and create a post for the samples he’s already gotten :: [/QUOTE] Sorry about the delay. Couldn’t get a clean connection on my mic jack. The recorded paragraph will be on it’s way to you shortly. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/17 "2007-11-23T00:11:06Z")
I’d be the same as **Cazzle**. I’m not sure about Aaron, though. I’ve always thought there were two pronunciations of that _Air-on_ (the “proper” way - rhymes with “bear on”), and _Arron_ (the “American” way - rhymes with “Darren”). The American pronunciation seems to have squeezed the other one out here in the last couple of decades. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/18 "2007-11-23T00:14:01Z")
Hang on. One slight difference with **Cazzle**. I wouldn’t say pronounce “ceremony” as “seh-reh-MOAN-ee” but rather as “SEH-reh-m-nee”. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/19 "2007-11-23T00:15:05Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] I’m not sure about Aaron, though. I’ve always thought there were two pronunciations of that _Air-on_ (the “proper” way - rhymes with “bear on”), and _Arron_ (the “American” way - rhymes with “Darren”). The American pronunciation seems to have squeezed the other one out here in the last couple of decades. [/QUOTE] I’ve always taken ‘Air-on’ to be the American way, probably due to Aaron Copland. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403/20 "2007-11-23T00:20:43Z")
**Sunspace** , you sound like a _Sesame Street_ character: 1. I note your location, so I realise that doesn’t make sense. 2. I forget which character it is (I suspect it’s several of the minor parts - so maybe one guy doing them all). 3. Take this as a compliment - I’m a big _Sesame St_ fan. 4. I love your “herry derry cattle”. 🙂 **Telperien** , I could listen to you all day. I have broadband. You have a telephone directory? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vocal-samples-thread-how-do-you-say-it/427403.md?page=2)