Avoiding spelling mistakes.

Pronunciation/ pronounce/ pronounced  

All Thai writers of English as a foreign language are concerned with the noun pronunciation. Knowing how English words should be pronounced in standard English speech can be a helpful clue in spelling them correctly. Since most Thai writers of academic research papers and theses are not taught standard English pronunciation, when they speak and write English, the results can be far from standard English. That is why the term Thai English was invented to describe the special kind of English seen and heard in the Kingdom. One first step to getting better results with pronunciation would be to learn how to spell the word pronunciation. In Thai English it is sometimes seen wrongly spelled as pronounciation. This wrong spelling is understandable. The writer of Thai English knows that there is an English verb, to pronounce. In order to change this into a noun, the writer thinks that the smaller English word should appear in the longer word. So the noun is written incorrectly as pronounciation. Also many students of English commonly do not pronounce the word pronunciation currently. They pronounce it as if it were spelled pronounciation. Since they pronounce the word wrongly, they are likely to follow up by spelling it incorrectly in this same way. If it is any consolation, some native English speakers feel that the word should not be spelled pronunciation at all, but rather pronounciation, in order to follow the example of the spelling of the word pronounce. Unfortunately, the way most people feel a word should be spelled rarely changes the accepted correct spelling in a quick way. These changes may happen over many years, as English changes and develops the way any language does. For now, most dictionaries of the English language still consider it wrong to say the word pronunciation as if it were spelled pronounciation. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary,  shelved among the reference books in the Puey Ungphakorn Library, Rangsit Campus, states that the pronunciation of the word pronunciation is sometimes heard wrongly stated as if it were spelled pronounciation. This

pronunciation variant… occurs in educated speech but is considered by some to be questionable or unacceptable.

To say the word pronunciation as if it were spelled pronounciation has been

objected to over a period of time in print by commentators on usage, in schools by teachers, or in correspondence that has come to the Merriam-Webster editorial department. In most cases the objection is based on orthographic or etymological arguments.

The words word pronounce and pronunciation both derive from terms in the French language, but it is not clear why one should have a letter o in the middle and the other does not. Rather than spending time trying to understand why the spelling of the two words is different, it is probably better to just accept it as a matter of fact. How can we remember to tell apart the spelling of the two words? We can invent a story that may help us recall what spelling is correct.

A little nun told me that the noun pronunciation is spelled without a letter o in the middle.

If we think of the noun pronunciation as containing a little nun in its center, then we may not be tempted to try to spell it with the letters noun. Students and ajarns in the Faculty of Law will be familiar with another use of the verb pronounce. In addition to meaning the way things are said or spoken, in a legal context it can also mean to pass judgement or make a decision on, or to declare or announce in a formal or solemn way. Also keep in mind that the word pronounced, when used as a verb, is the past tense of the verb to pronounce. Yet the word pronounced is also seen as an adjective, where it means very noticeable or conspicuous. The use of pronounced as an adjective meaning distinct, prominent, unmistakable, or obvious is seen especially often in British English. Here are some examples of correct usage of the verb pronounce and the noun pronunciation to help better separate the two in people’s minds:

• Bring back traditional language teaching methods, HRH the Princess says. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is encouraging the use of the traditional way of teaching pronunciation in Thai language instead of the new method, which focuses on learning words by rote and is being used in certain government schools.
• Pa is one such pronoun, which is very commonly used in Thai to denote “daddy”, although the pronunciation of the word suggests a Chinese derivation.
• Your smartphone can be used to download very useful English apps to practise listening, speaking and pronunciation with your friends, fellow students or co-workers. In this way, you can practise English as if you were doing karaoke.
• Thiyadaporn Sae-Jea, a Phathom 6 student who was trained to use these programs, said she enjoyed using them to search for new Thai words and learn how to spell, write and pronounce them exactly. “In the past, I had to ask teachers all the time, but now I can learn the correct spelling and pronunciation by myself. I have learned many new words,” she said.
• The language is words, their meanings and etymology, their pronunciation, grammar and syntax – and includes spelling.
• English spelling is the most irregular of all the main alphabetic spelling systems. It contains a unique “double whammy”. Not only is it impossible to spell correctly from the spoken word, but the written word doesn’t always convey the correct pronunciation, because traditional English spelling allows certain letter patterns to represent more than one sound.
• Apart from her full-time work as a musician and music teacher, she still loves to sing and perform in plays. This month, she has starred in the titular role of Cixi Taihou The Musical. Before she met director Kriengsak Silakong and composer and singer Suruj Tipakoraseni, Kanyapas said she had never studied singing seriously. For almost a year before the opening of the musical, she took weekly singing lessons with Suruj, focusing on clear pronunciation.
• Not surprisingly, the shortage of English language teachers is more pronounced in rural areas – the larger the cities, the better the provision of teachers.
• Not surprisingly, the shortage of English language teachers is more pronounced in rural areas – the larger the cities, the better the provision of teachers.
• In Japan and some parts of China the word “four” is pronounced “shi“ the same as the word for death. Consequently just like number “13” in the west, the “4th”, “14th”, and “24th” floor, etc, are skipped in some buildings.
• In Thailand’s criminal justice system, there is no trial by jury. A single judge pronounces the verdict for misdemeanors; two or more judges are required for more serious cases.
• The differences in strategies used by the US and China for the Asia region have become pronounced.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)