2

Why are words like privacy pronounced like /ˈprɪv.ə.si/ in British and /ˈpraɪ.və.si/ in American English (short vowel in the first case, long in the latter one)?

I read that determining whether a vowel is short or long, one must split the word in syllables, and then if that vowel is the only one in the syllable and is not succeded by a consonant is long, but if that vowel is still the only one in the syllable but is followed by a consonant in the same syllable is short. In the case of privacy I think it is because of the different spellings (priv-a-cy in British and pri-va-cy in American). If so, do you know other words that have different spellings in British than in American?

Improve this question
3
  • The word is spelled the same in both languages. In priv-a-cy, for example, the hyphens have nothing to do with spelling. They are merely phonetic guidelines indicating syllables used (and, thereby, suggestive of pronunciation). So, you've almost answered your own question: refer to regional dictionaries.
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented Jul 7, 2018 at 19:04
  • 1
    A previous question about this topic on the ELU Stack Exchange site: Pronunciation of “priv-” in British English and American English
    – sumelic
    Commented Jul 7, 2018 at 19:16
  • 1
    @JasonBassford: I meant "syllabled" if there is such a terminology
    – Alex S
    Commented Jul 7, 2018 at 19:35

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

As far as I remember, 'privacy' was an exception to Trisyllabic Laxing (TSL) in American English. It was a phonological process that shortened certain tense vowels when they were followed by two or more syllables.

Privacy → /ˈpraɪ.və.si/

The first syllable is stressed, has a tense vowel and is followed by two syllables, so it should, by TSL, yield:

  • /ˈprɪ.və.si/ (we know that /aɪ/ gets shortened to /ɪ/)

It's true in British English whereas in American English, TSL doesn't apply.

Another exception is 'dynasty', which, in American English, is:

  • /ˈdaɪ.nə.sti/ — TSL doesn't apply

In British English, it is:

  • /dɪ.nə.sti/
Improve this answer
3
  • Some Brits do say /ˈpraɪ.və.si/ - Lexico gives both variants for British English. Whether it is an imported pronunciation or a survival I'm not sure. (I have never heard a Brit say /ˈdaɪ.nə.sti/ , though.)
    – rjpond
    Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 14:57
  • @rjpond: Probably Americanisation.
    – Rayan Khan
    Commented Jan 14, 2021 at 15:02
  • @rjpond: And now /ˈdaɪ.nə.sti/ has made its way into BrE (he says /ˈdaɪ.nə.sti/ throughout the video.)
    – Rayan Khan
    Commented May 30, 2021 at 19:08
2

There are many - but lists don't make good SE questions, I'm afraid.
Basil, oregano, cigarette, Bernard, advertisement, garage, gourmet, ballet, brochure, address...

bazil bayzil
origarno oreggano
cigarette cigarette
Berna'd Bernaard
advertissment advertizement
garage [or even garridge] garahge
etc

The British have a joke about it, they say that
Americans put the emph-ah-sis on the wrong syll-ah-ble.

One thing I've noticed, though never researched, is that the main differences would tend to be in 'newer' words; words that more likely came though French than early Germanic/Nordic or directly from Latin.

I also found this - 22 Words with British and American Pronunciations that may Confuse you - which includes a lot of even single syllable words where the pronunciation changes even if the emphasis doesn't. Too many to list here.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .