Quote:
Originally Posted by TGS
Here's how I think of it: Imagine there is a verb "to liz" (there isn't, but just bear with me!). Then someone who does "lizzing" might be thought of as a "lizzer", and of one got several of them together you might have a group of "lizzers". Now, when you say "lizzers", as you pronounce the "zz" move your tongue forward a bit to the back of you're teeth. Voila! you are saying liseuse (or as close as makes no difference!)
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nice explanation ! thanks for that. and spot on (or as close as makes no difference.
), including the bit about "imagine there is a verb...", except that as it happens, the verb is "lire" (to read) which is conjugated "lis" ("je lis" = "i read", "nous lisons" = we read).
thus "
liseuse", with the extra connotation of taking pleasure in the activity to differentiate from "lecteur" or "lectrice" which is just someone / thing engaged in the act of reading or capable of reading.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kazbates
To get back on topic as per the request of the mighty pshrynk, I think I would use the word more often outside of MR if I knew that I was pronouncing it correctly. I've heard it through a translation website, but the person speaks it so quickly that it is still unclear to me and that's even with the 2 years of French classes I took in college.
I have taken to pronouncing it as *li-zues (like the mythological god)*. But don't quote me on that as I must admit to being question on a rather frequent basis as to "where are you from". Living in the "almost South" with a strong Chicagoan accent has that affect on people.  |
kaz, i wouldn't worry ; i am sure your pronunciation is fine, especially since traditionally, borrowed words tend to get pronounced according to what seems natural to the speaker in the context of their own language. for example, i've recently learned that in english, "masseuse" is apparently pronounced "mass-oosse" when in fact it should rhyme with 'liseuse" (same word ending / kind of word). from your description i think you're a lot closer to the original pronunciation than you think, anyway !