By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: There is one word in the English language that is always pronounced incorrectly. What is it?
There are many words that people pronounce differently, I say this Either: either, Neither: neither, Data : data it doesn't matter, as long a they know what you mean!
Biscuit; some people say Biss- Cue- It or Bridge; Brid-Gee
tomato tomato
There are some many variations on English that as long as the message can be passed to the next person, then it is ok.
The word is "incorrectly".
Thank you we'll be performing all week.
and i'm called a points whore (which i freely admit, but most of my answers are answers and most of my questions are questions!!!!)
actually there are many words in the english language pronounced incorrectly you could have made a legitimate question by asking which words but now i will do like the chinese and steal your idea
Haha, vampire! They hate the whole v/w thang. You'll get a whole lotta wampires.
How many pounds of dirt are there in a hole measuring 2 meters by 3 meters by 4 meters?
Franck3:
38700LBs if loose . 51600LBs if packed, it is heavy stuff.
So very smart. But you asked how many LBs of dirt are there in a hole Etc. So you do not really want to know.diverdude1:
by there very nature holes are empty. so, the big ZERO lbs of dirt.
Often pronounced 'offen' drives me up the wall!
nevermind:
GUess what, "Offen" is the correct way. The "T" is silent.
IrvineWelsh:
It is maybe silent in your mind but in the English language my boy it is grammatically incorrect to pronounce often 'offen'.
You should hit the grammar books whippersnapper!
JungleLife:
Both ways are ok, when teaching this word you should tell the students that both ways are accepted.
Phew!! I don't know just guessing......I was guestimating my choices!! 
'snack' and 'snake' : one boy in my class said he liked to give girls 'snakes'
Often. The T is silent and people don't realize this. It is not "Off-ten" it is "Offen"
IrvineWelsh:
False. I just pray that you are not masquerading as an English teacher! 
nevermind:
You are so wrong it's not even funny. And no, I'm not an English teacher, I'm a broadcast journalist.
I certainly hope YOU'RE not masquerading as an English teacher. Dope. http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2012/01/silent-t.html
IrvineWelsh:
Broadcast journalist-ha codswallop! I certainly know what you are broadcasting and it isn't journalism- more like tripe! I assume you realise you are quoting and linking an amateur blog as evidence. One look at the authors of the site confirmed my suspicions. It is written by a couple of bumpkins from Iowa of all places. I much prefer standard English rather than American gobbledygook or slang!
nevermind:
"Blah, blah, blah I'm an English teacher who doesn't know how to speak the language."
It's funny to hear Brits pretend they speak English well, most of your dialects are just farting the language out of your mouths. We in North American speak a fossilized and more pure form of it.
Anyway, you're completely wrong and I feel sorry for your students.
As well, I'm not an American.
IrvineWelsh:
You say you speak a purer more fossilised form of English yet you litter your sentences with the delusions of a madman like Webster.
How can American English be a fossilised form when it was changed on a whim just to promote a false North American doctrine. Part of the whitewashing of history that goes on in North American history.
Really you should be a comedian. Your comments really make me laugh.
nevermind:
I think they only make you laugh because your ignorance combined with your narrow-mindedness is getting a great shock hearing the truth about how things are. I guess you don't get to hear the truth "off-Ten" enough.
IrvineWelsh:
I think your ramblings and your complete failure to address my arguments is real evidence of who has won this particular contest.
Better luck next time sunshine!
nevermind:
The only argument you've put forth is "I'm right because I am"
Not an argument, sparky.
But again, you're just a troll.
IrvineWelsh:
Calling someone a troll is often the sign of someone that has lost an argument.
I am a native speaker, that's why I know I am right.Plus my MA in English!
nevermind:
Your MA in English means nothing because you clearly don't understand the language. You're just that twerp on here who used to pretend you spoke 20 language and a bunch of other BS, get lost. Looke, Frank Snowball or whatever your names is. No one here is buying it.
Almost every word that most people say ends with an added "ah"
Pronouncing often 'offen' is low grade slang at its worst.
Non-native speakers, especially the French, have/had difficulty pronouncing the word in hand correctly. French immigrants trying to speak in English when arriving in America had this problem. For reasons unknown to me some Americans then picked up this slang and continued on the mistake.
Make no mistake it should be pronounced often. The 't' is not silent.
nevermind:
The T IS silent. Get your facts straight.
http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2012/01/silent-t.html Is it pronounced "list-en" and "soft-en" as well? No, it isn't. Back to school with you.
IrvineWelsh:
I assume you realise you are quoting and linking an amateur blog as evidence.
One look at the authors of the site confirmed my suspicions. It is written by a couple of bumpkins from Iowa of all places.
I much prefer standard English rather than American gobbledygook or slang!
IrvineWelsh:
I've no idea. He or she is however quoting a tripe American blog as 'evidence'!
GuilinRaf:
Well, maybe you could provide an alternative site? I am sure that many would find it most instructive....
IrvineWelsh:
If only I had the time...
I think the language is evidence enough without posting back-up links. This only tends to be done by people that have a very weak argument.
nevermind:
Irvine is wrong. He's just not man enough to admit it. According to him we should all just believe he is correct because he said he is. I don't know any reasonable person who thinks that is an acceptable way to win an argument.
IrvineWelsh:
I'm the first to back down if I'm wrong but will not cower when facing offish bullies who know next to nothing about the English language.
If you are looking for proof of my argument just go into a civilised English speaking country and open your ears.
It will do no end of wonders for your pronunciation and grammar.
All the best with your future studies.
nevermind:
This guy is either a troll or he really is of lesser intelligence and a tad delusional.
IrvineWelsh:
If you take a little look back at our exchange I do believe it was you that was trolling me.
And if you are trying to constructively counter argue don't just copy my points and use them as your own.
You my friend are under the delusion...
nevermind:
Poor widdle lokey-blokey, Irvine...whaaa! Whaaa! Still teaching English under the radar, eh? Well, no worries one day you'll be kicked out of China and force to do a job more suited to your abilities, like Wal-mart when you return to Wales.
IrvineWelsh:
What does that even mean?
My employment is certainly not under the radar and I'm definitely not from Wales.
According to an unlearned friend above the "T" in often is pronounced. This is false, Chinese readers, do not pronounce it. There was a time when it was pronounced, but that was back when Cromwell was running England. The language evolves, it is no longer pronounced, just like we don't say "lisT-en" or "sofT-en"
End of lesson.
I think 'nevermind' is inappropriate. 'Nomind' would be more apt. Indeed language does evolve but it should never evolve into nonsense.
I would encourage Chinese students to pronounce often as often and to ignore the ramblings of the NED above.
If you want to sound like someone from the civilised world, rather than an uncouth cowboy, it would be wise to follow my advice.
nevermind:
I find it hard to believe someone from the "civilized" world would automatically resort to personal insults and attacks and not even bother showing a website to prove their theory. By the way, it is hilarious that you call these two "bumpkins" because they're from Iowa and ignore the fact one was a writer fro the Wall Street journal as a literary critic and has decades of writing and editing under her belt. The other was born and raised in NYC and has a masters from Columbia and was a diplomatic correspondent.
And you do what again? Teach English to screaming brats in Shenyang? I think their resume and experience trumps yours.
Such a narrow minded fool surely can not be entrusted to make a cup of coffee let alone be expected to pronounce often correctly.
IrvineWelsh:
I believe it is you that is narrow minded my challenged friend.
You seem to have been living in a cultural and historical bubble with delusions of reality.
Anyone that has to link to amateur blogs as 'evidence' is clearly struggling in a losing battle. The language is clearly evidence enough.
Iowa is a backwater state in a backwater continent. These are undisputable truths. It might be a lovely place to live but it is hardly a bastion of the English language.
The writers seem like affable country people but would I ask them for advice on the English language-well no. I would hardly call the Wall Street Journal a quality newspaper. It is well known for its phony journalism and partisan stance. It might be quite sufficient for local news or a giggle but it is not a newspaper of international standing such as The Guardian, The Telegraph or The Times. I of course mean the original Times not the regional version in New York.
I think you need to do more actual research and not just quote the first amateur blog you come across. It really made your argument rather laughable.
Good luck I hope you will take my advice on board.
nevermind:
Again with your "amateur" nonsense. It's fairly funny you would berate my research skills when I put cold facts about who these two people....neither an amateur..... are and why they are qualified.
Yet you, a supposed brilliant researcher and English teacher (Who couldn't even get a teaching job in a country that speaks English) seem to think the world should just take you on your word?
These people are more qualified than yourself. And you are wrong. With every sad attempt to argue your case with the classic "Because I said so" approach used by angry fathers for centuries you show yourself to be more of a wanker.
Wrong, wrong wrong. I can't say that "offen" enough.
IrvineWelsh:
What utter rot.
Really such deluded ramblings does you no favours. You only portray yourself in a very bad light.
You seem to have lost your temper and resorted to abusive remarks. Clearly a sign of someone that has lost an argument.
Give it up and give yourself a break.
