What do you fink ?

[Sonaftersonafterson]

About seeing someone who pronounces their 'th' as an 'f'? As in, "I was firsty anyway".

Would it put you off? Hes an intelligent guy but.... oh god, I dont know. Am I being a snob??

It’s regional, isn’t it?

It’s not common where I am but it doesn’t really irritate me.

If it drives you scatty, it’s not the relationship for you, just like it wouldn’t be if he liked to lick his plate/pick his nose/role play as a puppy/whatever else.

so he lisps? i. e. speech impediment?
or he has a local accent where this the rule? so cultural / heritage?

(I know - since being on MN - that speakers of English do not seem celebrate the richness of their dialects.)

He has a speech impediment. If you think it's something to joke about, then please leave him alone. He deserves better.

It's not a speech impediment! Its regional I guess, london.

Oh god OP I'm in the exact same position! I really don't know what to do to be honest! I can't stand it...I'm a Year 2 teacher and teach phonics every day...I have to teach my children 'put your tongue out like this and say 'thhhhhh' 🤣. And here's this grown man saying 'fink' and 'fing' (he's perfectly able to pronounce his 'th' sound before anybody pounces...I've tried this out with him 🤣 He's just lazy and it's a bad habit 🤦‍♀️

We've been dating now for 4 months and I 'fink' this might be the 'fing' that finally breaks me 🤦‍♀️

@DotsandCo

Not just me then!!! It makes me wince. I dont know why I see it as an indicator of intelligence when I know full well it is not. Tricky one

Dd was referred to speech therapy due to a few mispronunciations that were no longer age appropriate. 'F' instead of 'th' was one bit I was told they don't correct/treat that (not sure the right expression) anymore as it's such common dialect now. I'm in Scotland and whilst aware it's common in some areas it most certainly isn't here but still it's classed as acceptable speech. Not sure this helps your dilemma but just sharing what the expert said 😆

That isn't a speech impediment. I'm up north and hear this kind of talk. Think along the lines of " I was firsty and I got a likkle boccle of water at the the hospical".
Watch a few episodes of the royle family that's got everyfink in it.

My mum & brother do it, I used to until I realised (in my teens, with horror) what I was doing. I’m sure for some it is a speech impediment, but for many it is just not realising or caring. I worked hard to correct my pronunciation but even now some phrases can trip me up if they have a mix of “f” and “th” words.

It would put me off someone I’m afraid.

I'm not bothered about looks but I like an articulate person. I'd struggle to feel attracted to someone who speaks like that

I wack Ls into everything

But it's Bristol init!!

It's quite common where I am in the north, it's generally not a speech impediment. I don't like it. My husband used to do it but doesn't anymore.

For the people I know it's almost like a kind of reverse snobbery IYSWIM.
I pulled my friend on it once and she took the piss out of me for talking "posh". The reason I pulled her was that I've heard her use the correct pronunciation at say the doctors, but then she reverted back.

It would put me off, I’m afraid ... I must be shallow or a snob, but it would definitely give me the ick!

I dont know why I see it as an indicator of intelligence when I know full well it is not.

Classism I guess.

@Sonaftersonafterson

About seeing someone who pronounces their 'th' as an 'f'? As in, "I was firsty anyway".

Would it put you off? Hes an intelligent guy but.... oh god, I dont know. Am I being a snob??

Yes, quite honestly but you're also within your rights to stop seeing someone for whatever reason whenever you want. Consent blah blah

^^ I mean yes, you do sound a bit snobby

It's a regional thing. Yes you are being a snob

Yes, totally put off.

I'd be thinking not but I really shouldn't judge, I'm irish and can't do a "th" either with my accent 🤣🤣 but when I hear sumfink, all that pops into my head is vicky from little Britain 🙈🙈

I'm not proud of myself for saying it, but it would be enough to put me off.

@Prokupatuscrakedatus

so he lisps? i. e. speech impediment? or he has a local accent where this the rule? so cultural / heritage?

(I know - since being on MN - that speakers of English do not seem celebrate the richness of their dialects.)

Ie is it classism or ableism?

liveforsummer is right. I'm a speech therapist and we wouldnt treat this, as long as they can make a th sound, it's dialect so would be elocution rather than speech therapy.

The reason I pulled her was that I've heard her use the correct pronunciation at say the doctors, but then she reverted back.

No, it was because you were rude. My accent (and therefore pronunciations) change depending on who I'm talking to.

@Neonplant

It's a regional thing. Yes you are being a snob

Not where I live it isn't!! The guy I've just started dating is perfectly capable of pronouncing the sound...but is a generally lazy speaker...and doesn't! He also drops other sounds...like the 'g' at the end of a word...so 'something' becomes 'somefin' which is simply lazy pronunciation here when everyone else in our area says 'something' 🤷‍♀️