You know, if you’re British, and pronounce words properly.
thecanvashat
Huh. I’m in America and I pronounce it like that.
Li
Me too.
Also, you can tell me British people “pronounce words correctly” when you guys stop bastardizing anything with foreign ancestry, especially words with French roots.
And the British accent is a relatively modern invention. The American accent is literally the original one:
That article about accents was actually really fascinating! I had no idea!
90percentgeek
The English language (and by extent it’s accent) doesn’t so much borrow from other languages as it lurks in dark alleyways and mugs them when they’re not looking, and steals their vocab.
That being said, the correct way to pronounce any word in the English language is of course whichever way the English pronounce it 😀
Just don’t get us started on the correct way to pronounce ‘bath’!
Andiemus
Not really, since they’re basically different dialects.
There is no such thing as “correct” when it comes to usage. Or rather, it asks the wrong question. The point of language (and grammar) is not to be “correct,” but to communicate in a clear and understandable manner. If you’re doing that, nothing else matters.
When all of you are saying “correct,” what you are really meaning is standard. (What linguists called the “Received Pronunciation.”)
A fascinating book which talks about this and other language myths is: Language Myths. It’s also actually enjoyable to read (especially if you’re finding this discussion fascinating), so I’d highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested in finding out how language actually works, instead of just ranting about who is “wrong” and who is “right.”
Which is a little like saying “OMG YOU GUYS, THAT PINE TREE OVER THERE DOES NOT KNOW IT’S WINTER AND STILL HAS ITS LEAVES ON WHAT AN IDIOT!”
AndromedaRage
@Stewart baker , thanks! you just gave me something to read in between waiting for comic updates, haha.
davidbreslin101
Where I grew up (right in the middle of England) we replaced half of our consonants with glo”uw sto’s* and added a kind of nasal sneer to most of the vowels.
I am VERY glad this is not the international standard.
*glottal stops
Li
I can’t help feeling like you clicked the “Reply” link without actually reading my comment…
Roborat
I pronounce it “shower”.
TPman
The Newfies got them both beat. Lord tunderin that’s some old school English.
Crumplepunch
Hah, okay, I chanced to look at an old comment thread and I think I’d better address all these responses.
When I said the British pronounce words “properly” of course I wasn’t being serious. Nobody has a particular claim to correct language, the best feature of the English language is that it is continually evolving.
Darchangel
One word for you: Al-you-min-ee-um.
Where the hell does that extra syllable come from?
showler
American: Aluminum
British: Aluminium
The question is: Why did the US lose a syllable?
Raibean
Fun fact: aluminum was around first (well, second -alumium was first). The element was renamed “aluminium” to match the rest of the elements.
Jen Aside
It comes from “every other similarly-named element ends in ‘-ium’, wtf are you doing”
JD
Oh? What about “platinum”? “Molybdenum”? “Lanthanum”?
No Name
Aluminum was named for alum, as calcium was for calc, sodium for soda, potassium for potash. Platinum was named for the Spanish for “little silver”, Lathanum was named for the fact it took a while to find, and molybdenum for molybdenite (the only other -ummer to actually be named for its ore). Americans added the -n- to make it sound like platinum (it was more precious than gold at the time of discovery) and for euphony; the British added the extra -i- to get it in line with the other -iums, which are in the vast majority among the elements compared to straight -um.
Yeah, I know, it’s been a while. But I just had to get this out here.
Prescriptivist much ;P
Neither American nor British English have a more solid claim to “correctness” on any particular level. Both are about equally divergent from the English spoken during the colonial period, even if those divergences are more meaning in one and pronunciation in the other.
Also, for the record, in some American English subdialects the pronunciation dictates the meaning, one is a candy cooked to firmball stage the other a viscous sauce for deserts.
Raibean
Descriptivism ftw
Deylan
Some people same Caramel. Some people say Carmel. I say Caromel
stjimmy435
So you’re saying that for the last 7 to 8 years, I’ve been mispronouncing my dog’s name? I’ll stick to Carmel, good English gentleman.
Nee Hou
Consult Isaac Asimov on British pronounciations:
School is pronounced skool,
schedule is pronounced shed-u-al.
WT…!
Mount carmel still exists you know… it’s in northen israel and Haifa the third largest city in istrel is located on it.
Allso it’s actualy a mountin range.
Like Shadow’s, Walky’s skin color is what would happen if you took a sample of skin tone of every person in North America and put the blender on “very fine”.
She’ll exterminate that effete English ectomorph with an electrified epee!
Yotomoe
She’ll Furiousely fist that fastidious foppy flavish flake with fire-y force from her forearms.
williamtwodium
She’ll gruesomely guillotine the gangly git with grotesque gusto, ghoulishly gulping his gangrenous gallbladder after MacGyvering his guts into garters?
The Karp
She’ll heartily hang that horrible, haggard human, whom will hesitate, having heard her harbinger.
Andiemus
She’ll harrowingly hit the horrendous handsome hunk with heartfelt hurt.
Ivan
She’ll actively shed Herpes Simplex Virus 2 onto his corneas.
(it didn’t follow the pattern, but at least it’s bongoin’ revenge!)
90percentgeek
She’ll inhume the irritating idiot with an icepick inserted into his intestines then irreligiously inter him intestate.
(Okay, so X, Y, and Z failed on both the violent and insulting angles, and feel sorta silly, honestly, but at least I got us the rest of the way through the alphabet!)
266 thoughts on “Kinky”
Jen Aside
CARAMEL, obvs
Parismio
Carmel. We say carmel.
Skowt
Actually, its spelled Caramel. Carmel is a Mountain in the Bible.
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Wonder Wig
Well if it’s in the Bible I’m sure Joyce will be glad to climb it.
|Agent
Well-played.
Tucker
+1
Axel Bordelon
Well done!
Digidestined of Trust (Tim)
Flamey-o, flamey-o, as a Christian I salute you
Crumplepunch
It’s also pronounced caramel.
You know, if you’re British, and pronounce words properly.
thecanvashat
Huh. I’m in America and I pronounce it like that.
Li
Me too.
Also, you can tell me British people “pronounce words correctly” when you guys stop bastardizing anything with foreign ancestry, especially words with French roots.
And the British accent is a relatively modern invention. The American accent is literally the original one:
http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/2047-americans-brits-accents.html
(Can also be found on Snopes.com.)
So… yeah. I realize you were teasing, but in the future you will tease more accurately! 🙂
MattG
That article about accents was actually really fascinating! I had no idea!
90percentgeek
The English language (and by extent it’s accent) doesn’t so much borrow from other languages as it lurks in dark alleyways and mugs them when they’re not looking, and steals their vocab.
That being said, the correct way to pronounce any word in the English language is of course whichever way the English pronounce it 😀
Just don’t get us started on the correct way to pronounce ‘bath’!
Andiemus
Not really, since they’re basically different dialects.
Stewart Baker
Yes, this.
There is no such thing as “correct” when it comes to usage. Or rather, it asks the wrong question. The point of language (and grammar) is not to be “correct,” but to communicate in a clear and understandable manner. If you’re doing that, nothing else matters.
When all of you are saying “correct,” what you are really meaning is standard. (What linguists called the “Received Pronunciation.”)
A fascinating book which talks about this and other language myths is: Language Myths. It’s also actually enjoyable to read (especially if you’re finding this discussion fascinating), so I’d highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested in finding out how language actually works, instead of just ranting about who is “wrong” and who is “right.”
Which is a little like saying “OMG YOU GUYS, THAT PINE TREE OVER THERE DOES NOT KNOW IT’S WINTER AND STILL HAS ITS LEAVES ON WHAT AN IDIOT!”
AndromedaRage
@Stewart baker , thanks! you just gave me something to read in between waiting for comic updates, haha.
davidbreslin101
Where I grew up (right in the middle of England) we replaced half of our consonants with glo”uw sto’s* and added a kind of nasal sneer to most of the vowels.
I am VERY glad this is not the international standard.
*glottal stops
Li
I can’t help feeling like you clicked the “Reply” link without actually reading my comment…
Roborat
I pronounce it “shower”.
TPman
The Newfies got them both beat. Lord tunderin that’s some old school English.
Crumplepunch
Hah, okay, I chanced to look at an old comment thread and I think I’d better address all these responses.
When I said the British pronounce words “properly” of course I wasn’t being serious. Nobody has a particular claim to correct language, the best feature of the English language is that it is continually evolving.
Darchangel
One word for you: Al-you-min-ee-um.
Where the hell does that extra syllable come from?
showler
American: Aluminum
British: Aluminium
The question is: Why did the US lose a syllable?
Raibean
Fun fact: aluminum was around first (well, second -alumium was first). The element was renamed “aluminium” to match the rest of the elements.
Jen Aside
It comes from “every other similarly-named element ends in ‘-ium’, wtf are you doing”
JD
Oh? What about “platinum”? “Molybdenum”? “Lanthanum”?
No Name
Aluminum was named for alum, as calcium was for calc, sodium for soda, potassium for potash. Platinum was named for the Spanish for “little silver”, Lathanum was named for the fact it took a while to find, and molybdenum for molybdenite (the only other -ummer to actually be named for its ore). Americans added the -n- to make it sound like platinum (it was more precious than gold at the time of discovery) and for euphony; the British added the extra -i- to get it in line with the other -iums, which are in the vast majority among the elements compared to straight -um.
Yeah, I know, it’s been a while. But I just had to get this out here.
vlademir1
Prescriptivist much ;P
Neither American nor British English have a more solid claim to “correctness” on any particular level. Both are about equally divergent from the English spoken during the colonial period, even if those divergences are more meaning in one and pronunciation in the other.
Also, for the record, in some American English subdialects the pronunciation dictates the meaning, one is a candy cooked to firmball stage the other a viscous sauce for deserts.
Raibean
Descriptivism ftw
Deylan
Some people same Caramel. Some people say Carmel. I say Caromel
stjimmy435
So you’re saying that for the last 7 to 8 years, I’ve been mispronouncing my dog’s name? I’ll stick to Carmel, good English gentleman.
Nee Hou
Consult Isaac Asimov on British pronounciations:
School is pronounced skool,
schedule is pronounced shed-u-al.
WT…!
Ivan
Carmel is a high school in Indiana.
Whittier
And a town, it’s a suburb of Indianapolis.
Alyssa
And a high school in Illinois.
shadow eagle
“cause knowledge is power”
Mustachio
carnal knowledge is fun
ender1200
Mount carmel still exists you know… it’s in northen israel and Haifa the third largest city in istrel is located on it.
Allso it’s actualy a mountin range.
Whittier
But, in Indiana, they SAY “carmel”. Except for me, because I never wanted to sound like I was from Indiana.
Roborat
Where is the rainbow? Shit, somebody forgot to cue the rainbow!
Deylan
speaking of Bible. There is a hidden Jesus in this picture
Richard B
Well, you say it wrong then!
OkamiKing
“I heard you wanted some Caramel Filling?”
StClair
Definitely caramel.
Jenny Creed
Like Shadow’s, Walky’s skin color is what would happen if you took a sample of skin tone of every person in North America and put the blender on “very fine”.
Skull025
Hm. Backstabbing British Bastard.
I like where this is going.
Yotomoe
She’ll Bludgeon the Blowhard by beating him brutally with a baseball bat.
Blob Marley
She’ll clobber the crumpet-eater by crowning him with the queen’s cricket stick.
Icalasari
She’ll disembowel the… uh…
I’ve got nothing
Yotomoe
She’ll Disembowel, that dastardly, douchebag with her dangerous delicate daggers that dangle from the digits of her hands.
Baf
She’ll exterminate that effete English ectomorph with an electrified epee!
Yotomoe
She’ll Furiousely fist that fastidious foppy flavish flake with fire-y force from her forearms.
williamtwodium
She’ll gruesomely guillotine the gangly git with grotesque gusto, ghoulishly gulping his gangrenous gallbladder after MacGyvering his guts into garters?
The Karp
She’ll heartily hang that horrible, haggard human, whom will hesitate, having heard her harbinger.
Andiemus
She’ll harrowingly hit the horrendous handsome hunk with heartfelt hurt.
Ivan
She’ll actively shed Herpes Simplex Virus 2 onto his corneas.
(it didn’t follow the pattern, but at least it’s bongoin’ revenge!)
90percentgeek
She’ll inhume the irritating idiot with an icepick inserted into his intestines then irreligiously inter him intestate.
Totz the Plaid
She’ll jab Jason’s jugular with jagged jars!
Whittier
She’ll just jump the jerk and jab his giblets.
(Bah, close…)
Totz the Plaid
She’ll use knives and katanas on the knuckle-head’s kidneys and knees until she kills him!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll lacerate the limey louse with lances and longswords!
Neospector
She’ll startlingly stab the susceptible stupid, with a soldered steel sword.
Totz the Plaid
She’ll mangle and murder the mangy motherf***er with a morningstar!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll neuter the nerd with a night-stick!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll obliterate the obstinate ogre with an ordnance!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll pulverize the pissant poindexter with the pommel of her pickaxe!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll quickly quell the Queen-loving quim with her quarterstaff!
(By Queen I mean the British monarch, not the band.)
Totz the Plaid
She’ll ravage the rapscallion with a razor-sharp rapier!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll savagely stab and slice the simpering shit with swords and spears and string up the shreds with his sinews!
Totz the Plaid
Thunderously she’ll thump and trample that twit with a tank, then twist the trash with a trident.
Totz the Plaid
Until that useless ungulate screams “uncle”, she’ll relieve her umbrage with an uzi!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll violate that vermin with venomous vipers!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll waste that wretched wuss with a wounding whip!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll x__ that xanthodont with a xiphos!
(Yeah, sorry, I found an insult and weapon, but not a violent act.)
Totz the Plaid
She’ll make the yutz yelp by shooting him with a yumi!
Totz the Plaid
She’ll zombify that zippy with a zweihander!
(Okay, so X, Y, and Z failed on both the violent and insulting angles, and feel sorta silly, honestly, but at least I got us the rest of the way through the alphabet!)
Totz the Plaid
Wait… we never had an ‘A’?
She’ll assail the asshole with arrows and axes until he’s been assassinated! She’ll avenge his not allowing her an A!
stevecharb
Great effort, Totz, but you’ve deprived everyone else of the rest of the fun.