I am going to bed! [unutterable silliness]

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by NatCh

What? Do I have to define the three syllable words now?

Gobsmacked seems like two syllables to me. How are you pronouncing it?

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Gobsmacked seems like two syllables to me. How are you pronouncing it?

BOb

clearly it's like the the french pronunciation of "damned" (2 syllables : 'dam-ned).

[NatCh]

Grammatically the "ed" is a separate syllable, even if it ain't pronounced separately much in "the States."

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Grammatically the "ed" is a separate syllable, even if it ain't pronounced separately much in "the States."

like i said.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by NatCh

Grammatically the "ed" is a separate syllable, even if it ain't pronounced separately much in "the States."

Not, syllables have nothing to do with grammar. They have to do with word sounds. Adding an "ed" to a word only adds a syllable if the word ends with a t or d sound...

Like:

text (one syllable)
texted (two syllables)
plate (one syllable)
plated (two syllables)

Words that end with voiceless consonants like c, ch, f, gh, k... adding the "ed" actually adds a "t" sound to the word like:

force (one syllable)
forced (one syllable, pronounces like forst)
play (one syllable)
played (one syllable)

Hence:

gobsmack (two syllables)
gobsmacked (two syllables, pronounces like gob/smact)

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

gobsmack (two syllables)
gobsmacked (two syllables, pronounces like gob/smact)

BOb

except in french, pronounced gob/smack/ed.

like "damned" (two syllables : dam/ned).

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

except in french, pronounced gob/smack/ed.

like "damned" (two syllables : dam/ned).

Oh... so NatCh is from Texas, France? Got it.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Oh... so NatCh is from Texas, France? Got it.

i think he just has a french accent. (but i can't tell if it's the cédille, or the accent grave.)

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i think he just has a french accent. (but i can't tell if it's the cédille, or the accent grave.)

I could never understand those. My French teacher would say the words with the silly little French accentures and I could not hear ANY difference at all. She looked at me with great disappointment.

[RWood]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Oh... so NatCh is from Texas, France? Got it.

Maybe Paris, Texas

[RWood]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I could never understand those. My French teacher would say the words with the silly little French accentures and I could not hear ANY difference at all. She looked at me with great disappointment.

My high school French teacher was from Tennessee and spoke with a lisp and heavy Tennessee accent. He put all of the boys in the front of the class and all of the girls in the back. It was the worst grade I received in high school. If I tried to speak French in Paris I fear that I would be shot on site for unspeakable crimes to the language.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by RWood

Maybe Paris, Texas

Or perhaps a cagun Texan, after all borders in the US are pretty artificial.

Dale

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Not, syllables have nothing to do with grammar. They have to do with word sounds. Adding an "ed" to a word only adds a syllable if the word ends with a t or d sound...

Like:

text (one syllable)
texted (two syllables)
plate (one syllable)
plated (two syllables)

Words that end with voiceless consonants like c, ch, f, gh, k... adding the "ed" actually adds a "t" sound to the word like:

force (one syllable)
forced (one syllable, pronounces like forst)
play (one syllable)
played (one syllable)

Hence:

gobsmack (two syllables)
gobsmacked (two syllables, pronounces like gob/smact)

BOb

On further reflection, I realize you're right, I stand corrected. I can only plea that I was raised by wild, rampaging English and French teachers, and a Librarian.

[nrapallo]

May I interject...

The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One Syllable
by Mary Godolphin (Alias Lucy Aiken) 1781-1864

Author's Preface
In offering to the public another volume on my plan of reducing popular tales into words of One Syllable exclusively, I wish it to be clearly understood that it is intended for Adult Beginners, no less than for Children. There is a large class of persons who do not begin to acquire the art of reading till somewhat late in life, and it is for such that I think a book of this Character is peculiarly applicable.

It may be objected that my system involves the use of words which, though short, are difficult to understand and might be made more intelligible in polysyllabic language. But I have endeavored as far as possible to avoid hard and technical expressions, and I cannot but think that the mere fact of the brevity of the words must be a great attraction to beginners of all ages. By this method the labor of dividing and accentuating words is avoided: a difficulty which pupils who have only attained to the knowledge of monosyllables cannot conquer by independent effort.

I take this opportunity of acknowledging the great favor with which my previous books of the same character have been received, and I am glad to hear that they have been found useful as Prizes in Schools.

I have thought it necessary to retain all the names of Persons and Places in their original form, but this is the only exception to my general rule.

Can't get anymore basic than this...

p.s. the .zip file contains the source .html

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by RWood

My high school French teacher was from Tennessee and spoke with a lisp and heavy Tennessee accent. He put all of the boys in the front of the class and all of the girls in the back. It was the worst grade I received in high school. If I tried to speak French in Paris I fear that I would be shot on site for unspeakable crimes to the language.

Oh no! You'd only be charged twice as much as locals... and to such warming smiles!!