The Missing 'T'

[butterpuffed]

This isn't really about grammar or using the wrong word, it's about pronunciation.

I've noticed recently that so many people miss out the 't' in certain words when talking. 'Thir-y' , 'bi--er' , 'anticipa-ed' etc. Even Jodie Whittaker said 'disappoin-ed' in an interview the other day.

It makes me feel irrationally angry!

It’s called a glottal stop

Otherwise known as a glo’’al stop!

You've only noticed it recently? I grew up around it and my mum forever correcting the slightest slip I made. I do the same with my daughter now! Maybe it's a regional variation?

Why have you singled out Jodie Whittaker?

"Even Jodie Whittaker" is from West Yorkshire. It's just how we speak

Why have you singled out Jodie Whittaker?

She's often the Northerner on the BBC required for their quota. There is always at least one a week somewhere- it's PC gorn mad.

There have always been the odd Northerner but previously they were made to assimilate to our culture and learn the language. Some of them don't even seem like they've been to public school.

@myhobbyisouting

Why have you singled out Jodie Whittaker?

"Even Jodie Whittaker" is from West Yorkshire. It's just how we speak

Just because she's the latest one I recalled, absolutely nothing to do with her being from West Yorkshire!!!

Maybe it's a regional variation?

It is a regional variation.

As others have said, it's a glottal stop which just means that they've moved the articulation of the consonant to further back in their mouth.

It isn't "lazy" as it takes just as much effort to form (ie not very much either way). It's a normal variant of speech.

It's certainly not a "missing" sound as your ears will tell you if you listen - you wouldn't confuse butter with a glottal stop for the t, for the word burr.

The great vowel shift would have given Mumsnet the vapours!

It's certainly not a "missing" sound as your ears will tell you if you listen - you wouldn't confuse butter with a glottal stop for the t, for the word burr.

That’s really interesting - I’d never thought of it that way before.

It reminds me of the way many Americans pronounce a “t” or “tt” as a “d” sound in some words.

@myhobbyisouting

Why have you singled out Jodie Whittaker?

"Even Jodie Whittaker" is from West Yorkshire. It's just how we speak

Came on to say this! EVEN Jodie Whittaker... oh the horror

And yes OP, it’s a glottal stop and part of regional accents. I did linguistics at Uni.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glottal_stop

Where are you from OP?

It’s always been part of some London accents. How have you missed it? Have you been living in a 1950s BBC announcer booth your whole life? .

Try not to get ‘irrationally angry’ about regional accents.

You are not from "raannd" ere are you op?

I am a born and bred Londoner and i say all sorts of things. You are havin a giraffe op! Have a glass of Thames Wortar and you will be fine.

I can speak posh like wot you do: The rain in Spain, falls mainly on the plain!

Told ya ! Gotta go , havin a warm barf naw!

And i went to private school anorl.

I used to hate hearing people correct children when they said wa'er, instead of water etc. It's an accent thing. I dunno. I just think it's snobby

@ElizabethofpeanutYorkies

You are not from "raannd" ere are you op?

I am a born and bred Londoner and i say all sorts of things. You are havin a giraffe op! Have a glass of Thames Wortar and you will be fine.

Wor'er, mate wor'er. Innit tho.

@Oregano20

I used to hate hearing people correct children when they said wa'er, instead of water etc. It's an accent thing. I dunno. I just think it's snobby

I'm not sure you can just say it's a regional accent. It isn't - it's pretty common to all accents if you're 'sloppy' with speech. Plenty of people with London or 'estuary' accents don't use a glottal stop. Same with dropping the 'g' from 'ing' a la Priti Patel.

@AIMummy shaaaatttt uppp!

It isn't - it's pretty common to all accents if you're 'sloppy' with speech.

Or 'common' in terms of class, right? I mean that's what you mean. Plenty of public school kids in Liverpool, Scotland and London use RP, why can't they all?

Disgruntled Saaf Laandon girl here who was corrected, innit.

ElizabethofpeanutYorkies

Awight awight calm daaan

Pronouncing t and g aren't just the preserve of the RP speaking posh you know! You can, believe it or not, pronounce these letters in a Manc or Glasgow or Essex or any other regional accept!

@AIMummy you diffused a potentially very vol-it-isle situ-a-shon. For a minute i faught you woz accusing me of being a scouser!