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Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

(OP)

I sat through a presentation yesterday where a geotechnical engineer pronounced the word 'subsidence', SUB-se-dunce. It was not until I saw the word on the screen did I understand his meaning. My American Heritage and Encarta dictionaries have a pronunciation guide closer to what I'm used to hearing, which is sub-SIDE-ence.

Incidentally, this same engineer also spelled cementitious, 'cementaceous', not just once, but several times in his presentation.

I'm willing to give people a pass for misspellings when posting in a forum when you may not be as careful as usual, but a formal presentation to defense experts and attorneys?!? This goes beyond laziness, ineptitude, sloth and torpidity of mind.

Or maybe it was I who misunderstood that the concrete patch was to be completed in the Cretaceous period.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

I don't know that I'd stress too much over the pronunciation.   There are too many regional dialects within just a given country to get hung up on that sort of thing. ee-ther v. eye-ther, etc.

I'm with you on the spelling though - if something is worth writing (typing) it is worth spelling properly.

And either way, anybody with your moniker should be used to mispronunciations by now.  

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

I think the Geotech is confussing subsidence with "sustenance". Certainly, even the Leader of the Greatest Nation on Earth makes frequent pronunciation gaffes.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

As a postscript, I frequently pronounce words in a the General Contractor dialect, which differs quite a bit from "American" English. "Cementaceous" could be efficiently shortened to "mud".

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

According to Dictionary.com Subsidence can be pronounced either way ... with the "i" as in pie or pit.

Cementaceous is just plain wrong, no matter how it is pronounced!


Making the best use of this Forum.  FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions.  FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of.  FAQ559-520

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

Cor, if it is pronounced as the "pit" version, is the accent on the first syllable? I would prefer it that way.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

I've always heard the "pit" version with emphasis on the first syllable ... subsidence as in "subsidy".


Making the best use of this Forum.  FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions.  FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of.  FAQ559-520

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

Sub(sigh)dence.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

I find my biggest problem is that I read more than I speak.

As a result I often find myself attempting to use words that I have never heard pronounced before, but would like to use in a sentence. I have used the 'dialect' excuse a few times to get me out of sounding like an idiot, or at least sounding less like an idiot.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

Chris,
I haven't done this in a long while, but you could try to Google it. Some on-line dictionaries provide a sound file so that you can hear the desired word's pronunciation.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

(OP)

I like Merriam-Webster which has a feature that allows you to hear the word.  try www.m-w.com.

RE: Pronunciation of SUBSIDENCE, etc.

I checked that out and got suckered into the favourite word (that's not in the dictionary) Heh.
I have submitted gigogulous (jy-gog-guoo-luss) meaning: Beyond gigantic. Almost but not quite beyond comprehension.

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