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Outsider · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

I think I've heard 'forlorn' pronouced in two different ways- in movie Winslow Boy it 's accented on the second syllable, while in Pride And Prejudice the first syllable. Did I hear it wrong?
I'd appreciate any response.

KazAV · Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:33 am Post subject:

The stress is on the second syllable. Haven't seen P&P so I can't comment on that but, if it was so, then it is wrong.

Outsider · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

Thank you KazAV. It was Mrs. Bennet (by Brenda Blethyn) whom I heard said that, but I might be wrong; thanks very much for clearing it up for me.

LucentShade · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 542 Location: Nebraska, USA

The story of P&P takes place over 150 years ago, so maybe "forlorn" with emphasis on the first syllable was correct during that time. However, "forlorn" is more common today. I don't think that I've ever heard anyone say "forlorn" in the P&P way.

Outsider · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

I just want to say that I've just watched the Pride And Prejudice DVD again, Mrs. Bennet did indeed stress on the first syllable, and thank you LucentShade for pointing out the time factor and the common pronunciation nowadays.

KazAV · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

In the movie, were they using English as it would have been used at the time P&P was written? Jane Austen wrote in the 18th century and English was indeed very different. Just curious to know if the movie showed this at all.

Just out of interest, I found this site where you can hear the English pronunciation of words:

http://www.allwords.com/word-forlorn.html

Listen to how forlorn is pronounced there Smile

Hope all this helps!

pugachevV · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2295

Are you sure she was not saying "fallen"?

If you say, "she is a fallen woman", an expression which was common at that time, it does not mean quite the same thing as as a forlorn woman.
I believe forlorn has always been pronounced with the stress on the second syllable.

KazAV · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:29 am Post subject:

That's a good alternative suggestion. I have to see this movie now Laughing

Outsider · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 63

It was near the end of the movie when Mrs. Bennet saw off her youngest daughter Lydia leaving with her newly-wed husband for New Castle I believe. She said something like "It's forlorn to part with one's child". I hope you enjoy the movie.
Thanks for the link, Kaz.