Education & Reference Silent Letters???

[crownie]

why spell words with letters you dont sound when saying that word?

it makes no sense.

 

[Eth]

Don't think you'd like an answer...

 

[kfc1]

On another note. Why are foreign words and names never translated phonetically? It's like they want us to say it wrong...well maybe if you spelt it correctly...

 

[Cruyff14]

My name has a silent letter, sort of.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Old English was 90% phonemic (words sound the same as they look). But from the beginning of the 15th century, we began to borrow words from other languages. Because grammar and usage rules are different in other languages, adopted words did not follow the rules of English pronunciation.

 

[radiojake]

English nowadays is a mongrel, bastard language. It borrows from plenty of other languages -

But I am sure that has something to do with its global predominance

On another note. Why are foreign words and names never translated phonetically? It's like they want us to say it wrong...well maybe if you spelt it correctly...

Interestingly, the other day at work I had someone come in with the name Julio Gonzalez - He was only 10 or so years old but he looked South American and his parents still had a rather thick latino accent.

But they actually pronounced his name 'Joo-le-o' - I mean, in Spanish it is 'Hoo-le-o', but obviously they have probably become sick of Aussies mis-pronouncing it so have gone with the phoenetic pronounciation.

I just thought it was interesting

 

[Cruyff14]

Could have been Portuguese. The Portuguese pronounce their J's.

 

[radiojake]

Could have been Portuguese. The Portuguese pronounce their J's.

I might have to pay that one.... Touché, as the French would say -

 

[deck]

Now you know or now you now

You tell me?

 

[Starlin Castro]

Now you know or now you now

You tell me?

The "w" in "know" is also silent, i.e. it is pronounced "no."

 

[Messenger]

Just use this guys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

 

[Lagooner]

You know the language is having a laugh when the word 'phonetic' isn't spelt phonetically!