Korean Job Discussion Forums

[visitor q]

[ontheway]

Two of my dictionaries show both pronunciations to be correct. I teach the kids "offen" but I let them say "of-ten" if they like it.

Some people think saying the "T" in often is low class.

Yeah, it is low-class, just like those Brits that can't pronounce the "h" in history.

[Qinella]

My students usually say Ohpootun.

[Big Mac]

I still stand by what I said about it being lazy not to pronounce the "t." I didn't necessarily say it was unintelligent not to pronounce the "t," I said that it SOUNDS unintelligent. And yes, I agree such things can be regional.

I'm from the Ottawa Valley, a place that is known for such lazy speech. When I first started working in radio some listeners and producers complained about the way I was pronouncing certain words. The reason I did it was because it was the way everyone around me said it when I was growing up.

I've had to make conscious efforts to change my pronunciation so that I don't SOUND stupid on the air. You might not notice it so much in a casual conversation, but when you put it over the airwaves the problem intensifies. If you SOUND unintelligent it takes away from the credibility of what you are saying.

"Often" would be one of those words that I would be sure to pronounce with the "t" to avoid the pronunciation police (and believe me, there are people out there in radioland just waiting to jump on you for such injustices!)

[vox]

No 't' in often for my corner of the English-speaking world.

[Captain Corea]

Looks like about 70% of people here often pronounce the t.


oh and:

[gypsyfish]

[Captain Corea]