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The word "forte" has undergone this change. The actual correct pronunciation of it is "fort" as in a sturdy structure used for defence. I have only ever heard
by SeanDav 14y ago
The word "forte" has undergone this change. The actual correct pronunciation of it is "fort" as in a sturdy structure used for defence.
I have only ever heard it pronounced correctly twice, people typically say it as "fortay". This has now become so common that some dictionaries are showing it as a valid pronunciation.
Language is always evolving, which is great.
- snomad 14y agoGeorge Carlin on forte vs. fortay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-okOWMzIOI&list=PL6D8A609BF4E32BDC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-okOWMzIOI&list=PL6D8A60...
- superprime 14y agoI've used it the correct way only to have people try to correct it with the (traditionally) wrong pronunciation.
- deepblueocean 14y agoI don't like to be a pedant, but what the hell. Your belief about which is the "correct" pronunciation depends on whether you believe the "correct" etymology is French or Italian. It appears to me that people agree that the word came into English from French earlier, but also that (at least in 'murica) people have settled on the other pronunciation. It's not that there's a correct pronunciation that got corrupted, as you suggest. There are two legitimate derivations of this word with different pronunciations and one has won out. By the way, the word in French would be pronounced \ˈfȯt\, which is a common usage in Britain. And it refers not to a fort (which is the Italian etymology for "a strong point") but rather to the part of a sword between the middle and the hilt. Source: I like to read about usage and etymology. Sadly my dictionary of classical word origins suggests that forte comes from fortis in Latin, which (while ultimately true) doesn't reflect either later usage or pronunciation.
- SeanDav 14y agoYou are mistaken. There IS a version of "forte" that is correctly pronounced "fortay" and that is the musical term for loud, which is Italian. The correct pronunciation of "forte" as in an area of strength or speciality is "fort". Older dictionaries will give this as the correct pronunciation but more modern and especially online dictionaries sometimes give "fortay" as an alternate pronunciation.
- devindotcom 14y agoI used to make that same fort-from-the-french correction until I did so to an Italian girl who looked at me curiously and explained this. Although I think (in the spirit of pedantry) it's worth noting that the french pronunciation of the word depends on whether it's fort or forte and, of course, the first syllable of the next word!
- bitwize 14y agoMost people have probably first encountered the word forte in the context of music, where, as an Italian word, it is actually pronounced "for-tay".
- apw 14y agoI'm not sure of the etymology, but "forte" also refers to the strong part of a sword blade (in contrast to the foible).