Why are people saying ‘in-FER-ence’ now?

[BrickBiscuit]

All my life it’s been ‘in-FER’ and ‘IN-fer-ence’. But ‘in-FER-ence’ seems to be taking over. I hear it especially in amateur podcasts. What’s going on?

I don't understand what you're saying. All your life it's been in-FER-ence, and now people are saying 'in-FER-ence.' So nothing has changed then?

I have never heard anyone say it any differently

It’s a change of emphasis.

I have never, ever heard this. I can only imagine it specific to those podcasters.

American

Because anyone can have a podcast, unfortunately.

The OP said it's been in-FER and IN-fer-ence all their life.
Now people seem to be saying in-FER-ence

I haven’t noticed this, but surely pronunciation doesn’t fall into the category of pedantry? Well, it doesn’t for me, just spelling and grammar.

I'm not sure I understand the difference but I've noticed more and more Americanisms coming through over the last few years and it drives me nuts. Like saying Gen Zee instead of Gen Z, Jail instead of prison, autopsy instead of post mortem, "can I get?" Instead of "can I have?". Movie instead of film, truck instead of lorry, pissed for angry rather than drunk, one time, two times instead of once or twice, season instead of series or episodes Aarghhhh ....the list is bloody endless. We live in England not America, we are English and not American.

I also hate how young people draw out their words at the end of sentences to sound like they are American.

Of course it does! One can be pedantic about anything.

For the millionth time (ok I exaggerate) "Can I get" isn't some new American thing.
It's the normal way of asking for something in Scotland and, I believe, Ireland.

I don’t recognise it as general American usage - which state?

Apparently the American pronunciation has the stress on the first syllable, too. I'm worried that I've been guilty of saying in-FER-ence now, argh.

Of course you can. But being ‘pedantic’ about someone’s accent is about PREFERRING something to be pronounced the way YOU say it. It’s not about what is right or wrong. There are several ways to pronounce most words. I believe calling someone’s pronunciation, or indeed inflection, wrong is pretty offensive.

Thanks, but perhaps reread my OP.

Yes, it’s completely correct in NI too!

Edited to say that you said Ireland and NI is, of course, part of Ireland😅

Maybe we need to adopt some accents so we keep everyone in line. ínference. Therè, much éasier 😁

If you say so.

I've been told I mispronounce words on MN but it's my accent. It's not wrong, it's different.

I hate the phrase but it's a hill I will die on

I haven’t noticed a change in the pronunciation of inference, OP.
Where have you heard it said differently?

@HangryBrickShark
‘Can I get?’ isn’t an Americanism where I am (Ireland). Nor is jail/gaol.

So for ‘’infer’, it’s ‘ in Fer’ but for ‘inference’ it’s now ‘inFERence’ rather than ‘INferednce’?

Not noticed, but neither word I use a lot.

But still awful and it would be so much nicer not to say it.

It’s not objectively “awful”, it just seems so to you because it’s not what you are used to.

It’s perfectly polite in context.

Bloody hell! Any other long established and completely normal expressions you’d prefer the Irish and Scottish didn’t use? You do realise that how we express ourselves often has its roots in how something is expressed in Gaelic? You know, that language beaten out of us by the English?

Maybe it's awful to you but absolutely the norm where I am.
I presume you'd say "Please may I have?" . That would sound very odd here and if I said it I'd probably get laughed at or be the subject of eye rolling.

Also annoyed by the way Era is generally pronounced now