Page 6 | Pronouncing theatre...

Werehalfwaythere · 2023-12-11T18:48:59+00:00

Ok ok, I realise this has probably been debated many times before but - AIBU to massively cringe when I hear people say "thee-et-er" instead of "theer-ta"? Live in the south east and it just seems ridiculous that people who otherwise speak in a normal south eastern accent say it like that. To me, it sounds like a hyacinth bucket moment! My boss was telling me about her upcoming trip and I couldn't focus at all beyond the cringe!

muckymayhem · 12/12/2023 12:48

@Gwenhwyfar I think you've nailed it. (After I did a bit more muttering) but who on earth emphasises the 2nd syllable? Maybe with a Geordie accent this is possible? Time to step away from the thread again.

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:03

"who on earth emphasises the 2nd syllable?"

As I mentioned, the main person that comes to mind is Wiliam G. Stewart from Fifteen to One. He was a very formal man so I presume this pronunciation has some prestige.

afrikat · 12/12/2023 13:13

hydriotaphia · 12/12/2023 09:11

I say the 3 syllable pronunciation. It's not pretentious, it's northern.

I'm northern and say it with 3 syllables. The other way sounds posh to me

SoupDragon · 12/12/2023 13:27

muckymayhem · 12/12/2023 12:48

@Gwenhwyfar I think you've nailed it. (After I did a bit more muttering) but who on earth emphasises the 2nd syllable? Maybe with a Geordie accent this is possible? Time to step away from the thread again.

Me for one.

lots of people.

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:45

afrikat · 12/12/2023 13:13

I'm northern and say it with 3 syllables. The other way sounds posh to me

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Both ways have 3 syllables, it's the just the emphasis that changes.
I agree that emphasis on the second syllable thee-ETT-uh sounds posher.

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:54

Mainstream pronunciation here with emphasis on first syllable:

You see that it has 3 syllables. I think all those people going on about 2 syllables are a bit confused.

The other type is to put the emphasis on the second syllable instead of the first.
Click on the British English audio here:

theatre - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:56

I just realised the youtube pronunciation is slightly rhotic, but this is NOT important to what we are talking about.

SoupDragon · 12/12/2023 14:13

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:45

Both ways have 3 syllables, it's the just the emphasis that changes.
I agree that emphasis on the second syllable thee-ETT-uh sounds posher.

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Not when said in a south London accent I can assure you 😂😂

RecycleThie · 12/12/2023 14:15

I pronounce it with 2 syllables, first syllable is a diphthong for me (ˈθɪə.tə rather than θiː.ə.tə).

afrikat · 12/12/2023 14:36

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:54

Mainstream pronunciation here with emphasis on first syllable:

You see that it has 3 syllables. I think all those people going on about 2 syllables are a bit confused.

The other type is to put the emphasis on the second syllable instead of the first.
Click on the British English audio here:

theatre - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Edited

According to YouTube I am saying it correctly. I can't understand this 2 syllable thing!

afrikat · 12/12/2023 14:37

RecycleThie · 12/12/2023 14:15

I pronounce it with 2 syllables, first syllable is a diphthong for me (ˈθɪə.tə rather than θiː.ə.tə).

I just learnt a new word, thanks!

queenmeadhbh · 12/12/2023 15:04

JaninaDuszejko · 12/12/2023 12:05

So thee ate err? Or are you non rhotic so thee ate ah?

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Rhotic. Northern Ireland. More like “thater” and “later” - but because of the diphthongs in my accent they are both a little like “thee-ater” and “lee-ater” but the “ee-ay” is compressed.

under “vowels” in this article shows the diphthongs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_English?wprov=sfti1#Vowels

Ulster English - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_English?wprov=sfti1#Vowels

RecycleThie · 12/12/2023 15:26

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 13:54

Mainstream pronunciation here with emphasis on first syllable:

You see that it has 3 syllables. I think all those people going on about 2 syllables are a bit confused.

The other type is to put the emphasis on the second syllable instead of the first.
Click on the British English audio here:

theatre - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Edited

The second IPA transcription on your link is for a two syllable pronunciation 😉

Original poster

Werehalfwaythere · 12/12/2023 16:06

Torganer · 11/12/2023 22:00

Do you pronounce musical/drama ‘theatre’, in the same way you pronounce operating/medical ‘theatre’?

I do - do you? Do others?

OP posts:

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 16:30

"The second IPA transcription on your link is for a two syllable pronunciation 😉"

You were supposed to listen to the audio clip.

In any case, I don't think that's what OP's talking about. She's just talking about the difference between the two pronunciations in the audios I posted.

RecycleThie · 12/12/2023 16:48

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 16:30

"The second IPA transcription on your link is for a two syllable pronunciation 😉"

You were supposed to listen to the audio clip.

In any case, I don't think that's what OP's talking about. She's just talking about the difference between the two pronunciations in the audios I posted.

I was thinking about you describing people discussing a two syllable punctuation as "a bit confused" while linking to proof that it's a standard pronunciation in the UK 😂

I think OP's transcription of her own pronunciation was probably supposed to capture something like /ˈθɪə.tə/ (two syllables, the first is a diphthong)- the second UK pronunciation on the link. The one she's grumbling about is /θiˈɛt.ə/ (the third one, which described as "somewhat dated").

Honestly, all these pronunciation threads on MN would be a lot more productive if people would just learn the IPA 😂

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 16:55

"I think OP's transcription of her own pronunciation was probably supposed to capture something like /ˈθɪə.tə/ (two syllables, the first is a diphthong)- the second UK pronunciation on the link. The one she's grumbling about is /θiˈɛt.ə/ (the third one, which described as "somewhat dated")."

And why would it not be the one in the youtube video, basically THE-uh-tuh which I mentioned as my first option and the very first option on Wiktionary
/ˈθiː.ə.tə/

"all these pronunciation threads on MN would be a lot more productive if people would just learn the IPA 😂"

We don't even have to learn it, you just put a link to a key. It will never happen, but I think there should at least be a warning from MN something like 'it looks like you're creating a pronunciation thread. Please think it through first and don't use an 'r' to denote a longer vowel or you will start an extremely boring argument about rhoticity".

RecycleThie · 12/12/2023 16:59

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 16:55

"I think OP's transcription of her own pronunciation was probably supposed to capture something like /ˈθɪə.tə/ (two syllables, the first is a diphthong)- the second UK pronunciation on the link. The one she's grumbling about is /θiˈɛt.ə/ (the third one, which described as "somewhat dated")."

And why would it not be the one in the youtube video, basically THE-uh-tuh which I mentioned as my first option and the very first option on Wiktionary
/ˈθiː.ə.tə/

"all these pronunciation threads on MN would be a lot more productive if people would just learn the IPA 😂"

We don't even have to learn it, you just put a link to a key. It will never happen, but I think there should at least be a warning from MN something like 'it looks like you're creating a pronunciation thread. Please think it through first and don't use an 'r' to denote a longer vowel or you will start an extremely boring argument about rhoticity".

Well, it could be the first one but the fact that she's written "theer-ta" suggests to me she sees it as two syllables.

Please think it through first and don't use an 'r' to denote a longer vowel or you will start an extremely boring argument about rhoticity

Amen to that 😂

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 17:02

"Well, it could be the first one but the fact that she's written "theer-ta" suggests to me she sees it as two syllables."

I don't think she put much thought into how to explain her pronunciation to be honest.

FizzyStream · 12/12/2023 17:12

LucyInTheParkWithDragons · 11/12/2023 18:55

I know what you mean - ‘thee ETT a’ with a big flourish on the middle syllable. Normally said by (irritating) thesps, IME.

This is my stepmum. She's a bit of a thesp tbh. Makes me chuckle. She can say it how she wants but it sounds so affected to my northern ears.

Technonan · 12/12/2023 17:31

The OED has a diphthong in the middle, which is the pronuciation you dislike, I think. If there is any such thing as the 'correct' pronunciation, it's /θɪətə/

Ramalangadingdong · 12/12/2023 18:57

queenmeadhbh · 12/12/2023 09:21

For what’s it’s worth, when I say “theatre” and “later” they rhyme.

Wait, what?!

queenmeadhbh · 12/12/2023 20:19

Ramalangadingdong · 12/12/2023 18:57

Wait, what?!

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yep! Theatre, later, waiter, hater, fader, masturbator - all rhyme for me! Belfast.

queenmeadhbh · 12/12/2023 20:20

Gwenhwyfar · 12/12/2023 16:55

"I think OP's transcription of her own pronunciation was probably supposed to capture something like /ˈθɪə.tə/ (two syllables, the first is a diphthong)- the second UK pronunciation on the link. The one she's grumbling about is /θiˈɛt.ə/ (the third one, which described as "somewhat dated")."

And why would it not be the one in the youtube video, basically THE-uh-tuh which I mentioned as my first option and the very first option on Wiktionary
/ˈθiː.ə.tə/

"all these pronunciation threads on MN would be a lot more productive if people would just learn the IPA 😂"

We don't even have to learn it, you just put a link to a key. It will never happen, but I think there should at least be a warning from MN something like 'it looks like you're creating a pronunciation thread. Please think it through first and don't use an 'r' to denote a longer vowel or you will start an extremely boring argument about rhoticity".

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

CestTresChic · 12/12/2023 20:22

Hahaha my Dad always says it like Thee-etta
and coming from a family of “luvvies”
you can bet we rip him for it every time 😅💖