5 ms·

One subtle issue in learning words from reading is that with languages like English where there's ambiguity in how to pronounce a given spelling, sometimes you

by saghm 3mo ago

One subtle issue in learning words from reading is that with languages like English where there's ambiguity in how to pronounce a given spelling, sometimes you might not guess the correct pronunciation for words you learned. This isn't specific to learning non-native languages either; growing up I read a lot and learned most of my advanced vocabulary that way, so as a teenager I would often find out that I didn't pronounce a word correctly because I had only ever seen it written down before.

KPGv2 3mo ago
There's a quote I've come across before, never make fun of someone mispronouncing a word in English, because it's a sign they are a reader. I was in my 30s when I learned "ennui" was pronounced "on wee" rather than N-U-I. I did not know it was from French. No shame. I never spoke the word aloud, but used it in writing. A teenager I knew was studying for a vocab test and had to learn the word, and I overheard him flash carding. Pronounced it "on-wee" and my brain exploded.
- dieselgate 3mo ago
  Interesting example in this context because "ennui" looks French, which may help someone with the pronunciation or spelling depending on needs. It's not a word I've come across much before though, if ever? It means: tedium, boredom, "A feeling of weariness and disgust; dullness" Thanks for the teachable moment!
  - saghm 3mo ago
    I've always assumed it was a loan word from French, but I honestly also have never been properly able to figure out how to pronounce arbitrary words in French because I'm not familiar enough with the language. My perception is that the pronunciation for it is fairly regular, but I'd still need to take the time to learn it, and unless I actually spent the time to fully learn and practice French, I doubt I'd end up remembering the pronunciation rules anyways.
  - KPGv2 2mo ago
    I thought it might be Greek, a language all Americans butcher constantly. I think Gen Z will know the word bc one of the emotions in Pixar's Inside Out 2 was named Ennui and walked around with a French accent doing pretty much nothing :D

by saghm 3mo ago

KPGv2 3mo ago

There's a quote I've come across before, never make fun of someone mispronouncing a word in English, because it's a sign they are a reader. I was in my 30s when I learned "ennui" was pronounced "on wee" rather than N-U-I. I did not know it was from French. No shame. I never spoke the word aloud, but used it in writing. A teenager I knew was studying for a vocab test and had to learn the word, and I overheard him flash carding. Pronounced it "on-wee" and my brain exploded.

dieselgate 3mo ago
Interesting example in this context because "ennui" looks French, which may help someone with the pronunciation or spelling depending on needs. It's not a word I've come across much before though, if ever? It means: tedium, boredom, "A feeling of weariness and disgust; dullness" Thanks for the teachable moment!
- saghm 3mo ago
  I've always assumed it was a loan word from French, but I honestly also have never been properly able to figure out how to pronounce arbitrary words in French because I'm not familiar enough with the language. My perception is that the pronunciation for it is fairly regular, but I'd still need to take the time to learn it, and unless I actually spent the time to fully learn and practice French, I doubt I'd end up remembering the pronunciation rules anyways.
- KPGv2 2mo ago
  I thought it might be Greek, a language all Americans butcher constantly. I think Gen Z will know the word bc one of the emotions in Pixar's Inside Out 2 was named Ennui and walked around with a French accent doing pretty much nothing :D