Oh the English language!!!

@allknowing (130070)
India
June 15, 2019 2:05am CST
There are so many languages which are spelt out phonetically but not so when it comes to English. One has to learn perpetually till the dying day as spelling a word in several, several cases is so different from pronouncing it I just came across someone pronouncing the word 'Martyr as 'martior' Going by its spelling it may sound right but its correct pronunciation is Marter Why is English so confusion confounded?
14 people like this
14 responses
@LadyDuck (457169)
• Switzerland
15 Jun 19
It's not only English, most non French people pronouce French words wrong, especially those of English mother tongue. Sometimes I even have doubts about my native language.
4 people like this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
I know there are a few more.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457169)
• Switzerland
15 Jun 19
@allknowing Sometimes I check the pronunciation of the words online.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
15 Jun 19
@allknowing @LadyDuck I'm puzzled about this discussion. I would not know how to pronounce the word 'martyr' incorrectly!
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
15 Jun 19
I studied English at uni and knew the answer then. But that was half a century ago and I can't remember it. :-( I've got something for you. If you can read this poem correctly, you are very gifted.
The English Magazine English Pronunciation Fun with English Dearest Creature aka The Chaos That English Pronunciation Poem! Listen to this tricky little poem and you can practise your pronunciation and listening skills, and don't worry if you don't know al
2 people like this
@Sojourn (13829)
• India
15 Jun 19
Thank You for this link.This is a nice exercise to do in leisure.
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
15 Jun 19
@Sojourn You can also listen to the poem. The link is on the site.
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
Thanks for that link.I will book mark it It will take me time to go through that entire poem but suffice it to say I am not bad when it comes to pronunciations.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Jun 19
It is always complicated dear. even with small words, (for e.g. 'cut' - 'put' ) sometimes some letters should not be pronounced. We can find so many like this way..
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
15 Jun 19
@allknowing you are right.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
There is no limit to words that are pronounced with no logic whatsoever.
1 person likes this
@Kosgey (1707)
15 Jun 19
yea, you need to have learned it since childhood. To know how to pronounce or understand some of these English terms.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
Even native speakers fumble away
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
@Kosgey Depends on the school and teachers
@Kosgey (1707)
15 Jun 19
@allknowing what about those use it as second language
1 person likes this
@Sojourn (13829)
• India
15 Jun 19
Till this day I pronounced Martyr as martior . This has been my question since my childhood days.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
There are millions of words as confusing as this one (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
@MALUSE That is just a way of saying
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
15 Jun 19
@allknowing There can't be million*s* of confusing words as the English language doesn't even have one million words. This is an interesting article:
https://www.lexico.com/en/explore/how-many-words-are-there-in-the-english-language
1 person likes this
15 Jun 19
Hi, it is usually complicated , but pronunciation is different from language to another
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
One has to constantly learn this language.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
17 Jun 19
@Karenahanane55 If you are surrounded by those who speak and write good English it becomes easy.
1 person likes this
17 Jun 19
@allknowing yes, of course
1 person likes this
@May2k8 (18051)
• Indonesia
15 Jun 19
Not only English, but each language has a different pronounced.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
Many languages are phonetic such as Hindi
1 person likes this
@Bhadine (594)
• Philippines
16 Jun 19
I have been teaching English subjects for a decade, but guess what? I still get confused on the pronunciation of some words. Not just the pronunciation but also the spelling.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
16 Jun 19
One can never stop learning this language. I am at an advantage as most around me speak the language and I worked for a multi national for several years.
@wolfgirl569 (94571)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Jun 19
English also has many words the same sound but different spellings and meanings.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
I repeat It is confusion confounded
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76432)
• Germany
15 Jun 19
It is not only in the English language but also in many languages that I know of.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
May be but most here are conversant with English
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85238)
• Bangalore, India
15 Jun 19
It is definitely a confusing one. I don't know if you have seen old Bollywood movie Chupke Chupke starring Dharmendra as Parimal Tripathi. Another classic is Amitabh Bachchan's famous dialogue in English.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
I know Amitabh's 'English' dialogue
Namak Halaal (1982) Amitabh Bachchan as Arjun Singh
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85238)
• Bangalore, India
20 Jun 19
1 person likes this
@Janet357 (75657)
15 Jun 19
It is a complex language indeed.
1 person likes this
@Aansh13 (11251)
• New Delhi, India
15 Jun 19
Seriously speaking I get in so many conflicts due to pronounciation... English language is really confusing
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
The only way is to keep learning, keep learning, keep learning
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
15 Jun 19
I don't think so. Using English language has brought everyone to success. All over the world it is the universal language.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130070)
• India
15 Jun 19
I did not say that this language has not brought ' everyone to success' but you will surely agree with me that their spellings and pronunciations do not go hand in hand
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
15 Jun 19
@allknowing Yes.I do agree with you.
1 person likes this