Post by Will ParsonsPost by Ed CryerPost by Will ParsonsPost by caroluste´sifon!
regards
Örjan Rudstedt
There is fact a rule - for consonant combinations that are not
allowed
by
English syllable structure to commence the syllable, pronounce the second
CT, CHTH, CN, GN, PS, PT, PHTH, PN, BD
[t] [th] [n] [n] [s] [t] [th] [n] [d]
The exception is X (= CS), which is pronounced for some reason [z]
at
the
beginning of a word rather than [s] as we should expect from the general
pattern. (This has the advantage of dintinguishing in the
traditional
pronunciation the Greek letter PSI [sai] from XI [zai]).
I've always pronounced the G in Gnaius and the C in Cnut. Just as I've
always pronounced phthisis in full with the initial ph. In fact, for the
latter, the OED gives the phonetic pronunciation as " 'f?aisis" with "
'?aisis" as alternative. (NB the theta, viewable with a unicode font.)
So, where did you get this rule of yours? It is wrong.
That's a bit strong. The "rule" is simply an abstraction of how these
words have been traditionally pronounced in English, and follows the
pattern of all languages to assimilate the pronunciation of foreign
words to their own phonological patterns. In the more common cases,
there is no dispute - words beginning "ps" and "pn" are regularly
pronounced with "p" silent. In cases which are less common, there may
be more of a tendency for "spelling pronunciations", and words
beginning
"phth" would certainly fall into this category. I looked up your
"phthisis" in the Shorter OED, and it does indeed show it with an
optional initial [f]. OTOH, Webster's 3rd New International
Dictionary
shows only the pronunciation with initial [th]. I know I would feel
funny saying "fthisis". Similarly, I would no sooner pronounce the G
in "Gnaius" than I would the one in "gnome".
"Cnut", however, is another matter. First, it is Scandinavian in
origin rather than Classical, and perhaps the fact that it is less
remote in time influences keeping the initial [k] - in fact the form
one used to see was "Canute", with a vowel added so that the initial
[k] could still be articulated.
(One more addition to the list of consonant combinations with only the
second pronounced: MN pronounced [n] at the beginning of a word.)
- WillI
When I was a 10 year old in junior school here in the UK we had "reading
age" assessment weekly. Each one of us in the class was regularly
reviewed by the teacher. What we did was be called out to her desk and
stand alongside her, reading words from a reading list. "Phthisis" was
on it; quite near to the end, if not the end one itself. I got it wrong
first time, but always right thereafter; and I don't think I've ever met
the word in print since.
I think there's a kind of cultural divide between the UK and USA on not
only spelling but pronunciation. In the USA simplified spelling has
motivated simplified pronunciation. In the UK we cling to the spelling
of the language of origin; and this probably motivates maintaining their
pronunciation. Mind you we're caught between the devil and the deep blue
sea, with big Uncle Sam still such a powerful influence on us. These
days women buy cosmetics "because they're worth it" rather than because
they come from Parisienne haute couture.
It used to be very fashionable and chic to use French terms; and to
pronounce them à la française. German words are very popular among
philosophers, and, of course, you gain Brownie points for good
pronunciation. But this is on the wane. And in the USA they seem to
delight in pronouncing foreign words with as little foreignness as
possible; similarly to what they've done with English since kicking the
British out and going for the pursuit of "life, liberty and happiness".
Ed