to be really annoyed by this - yes I am but no more silly than the "tescos" issue

[vezzie]

I cannot bear it when a certain kind of person uses a horrible stylised very English "European" pronunciation of a single randomly isolated sound within a borrowed word

EG people who say "resterONG" in the most utterly English accent - either say "restront" like it's a normal English word (which it is) or use a proper French accent (which you can't because you are so posh and xenophobic your hearing is atrophied when it comes to picking up or reproducing linguistic nuances).

Similarly, "conchairto". Either say it in English or Italian, don't stick a random vowel in the middle of the word like greasy sundried tomatoes in a limp-lettuce-and-boiled-egg salad that are somehow supposed to make the whole thing magically Tuscan, or something.

That is all.

I think the problem is that as scorpette says, you were plain wrong about the two words you chose.

And you are bringing a whole swathe of wild prejudice to those who pronounce things differently to you. You state that only two types of people do this, and both types are snobs/thick/complacent/snotty or a mixture of all three.

If I say restauran (t) is because thats how I was taught to say it, and how I hear many people say it. Its not necessarily a class thing, or a show offy thing. It is a standard pronunciation of this word in English.

As I do not agree with your original statement, so to consider whether the French do the same, is somewhat redundant.

Its just all a bit chippy...

however, if you want to have a discussion about patronising, 12-year-old waiting staff and their woeful ignorance of the world and all its works, then lets get cracking...

but surely it's rest-ER-ont or rest-ER-ohn

the one that gets me is bruschetta .. I still have no idea how to pronounce it (thank god it's out of favour now)

isn't it lat-ay

Broo sketta @ Sweetfall

Talking of cafes, my DP has often been heard to ask for a double ex-presso in Starbucks. I

I what?

I bet that's what you're all wondering! I have no idea either...

Ah but Riven if you ask for a small americano (plain coffee to you or me) in our local Starbucks you're met with complete confusion - "do you mean a grande?" - I just want the smallest size black coffee you do, please?!

I do like the funny things people say though, my mum insists on saying "GLAZZZZZZgow" and "NewCASSle" in quite a vigorous regional accent before reverting to her normal tones for the rest of the sentence ....

X post!

it's an ay sound Riven as in way, say and pay

sch = shhh if you ask me but I shall accept a k sound

oh streuth

la as in lah (short ah) as in cat

Saying 'restront' instead of pronouncing the 'er' in the middle is acceptable English usage - clipping words is normal in our language. Like 'Wensday' instead of 'Wednesday'. The idea that every group of letters should be pronounced appeared alongside mass education. Because people who had never heard the words said aloud read them and thought that's how they should be said.

Nothing wrong with that, words belong to everyone, but there is equally nothing wrong with clipping them.

We don't have to pronounce borrowed words in a French or German or whatever accent because they have been absorbed into English. I imagine the French don't put on a special English accent to say 'le weekend'. (Someone will correct me if I'm wrong...)

but I didn't say only two types of people do this.

yes there is a middle syllable in restaurant - that is not the issue

I think the thing that really bugs me about "conchairto" is that if you want to be italian about it you should say the r before worrying about anything else but it would kill a certain kind of english person to say the r in the middle of a word so they don't

"whole swathe of wild prejudice"

ha ha only me on mn then.

vezzie you are not alone.

A friend with French Canadian pretentions always randomly pronounces "Quebec" in an alleged french way - sounds something like "Kee - bekk" with a big hit on the final consonant .

However she does not pronounce any other City the way its native speakers do.

Bruschetta always pisses me off, its not Broo-shetta, ist Brus-ketta!

And its not Mo-ey (et Chandon) its Mo-eT.

And people who over pronounce words like chorizo "properly" like "chor-eeee-tho", making a big palaver of how they are being so precise.

I could go on. But I won't!

My sister says lanCOMB for LON COM
( the make up)
friggin irks