[tonyp]

piny, while it also can be spelled piney, even without the e its still pronouced py-knee. i'll guarantee there are hundreds of other examples for both sides.

In any case, I, for one, even if its wrong, call it ply-knee because it sounds better to my ears.

I'm not a huge gallagher fan but this routine about the english language is epic.

[a10t2]

And Vesuvius erupted on August 24th, which just happens to be my birthday.

In whose calendar? 

[nateo]

How do you pronounce the "sauvin" in Nelson Sauvin? I say ply-knee too, but only because other people pronounced it first, and I just went along with it. I'm such a conformist.

[punatic]

And Vesuvius erupted on August 24th, which just happens to be my birthday.

In whose calendar? 

With a bit of basic research you can figure that out for yourself.

[nateo]

Also, why is "wort" pronounced "wert" and not "vert?" I barely remember high school Deutsch, but I'm pretty sure w's make a v sound.

[punatic]

I'm watching the Cubs at SF.  Melky Cabrera is at bat.  How do you suppose he pronounces his first name?

FWIW Melky got a base hit.

Based on Latin pronunciations, it makes more sense that Pliny would be pronounced plee knee rather than ply knee.

[tygo]

Well, the beer is named Ply-nee according to Vinnie and the ancient writer is named Plinny.  I think I can live with the discrepancy.

[captain_sousie]

Based on Latin pronunciations, it makes more sense that Pliny would be pronounced plee knee rather than ply knee.

+1 Latin pronunciation (and Italian for that matter) does not have the "ih" vowel or the "ei" diphthong at all.  At least that is what my diction professors have all instructed.  It only has a pure "ee" sound for the i or an i modifying a consonant, such is the case with the proper pronunciation of the name Giovanni (hint not djeeovanni).  Consequently, the correct pronunciation would be Pleenee.

Edit: 

This is like people who pronounce primer like primmer. And why I hate the English language.

-Sent from the future.

As for that example, it's a standard British colloquial pronunciation.  It is similar to the spelling differences from "gray" to "grey"...both correct.  We in America have terrible pronunciation for several words including aluminum and jaguar.

[punatic]

We in America have terrible pronunciation for several words including aluminum and jaguar.

Indeed, we even have a President who likes to sing the praises of Navy Corpse Man Christian Bouchard...   

[nateo]

We in America have terrible pronunciation for several words including aluminum and jaguar.

The "Aluminum / Aluminium" thing is a remnant from early American history. I don't have the dates exactly, but aluminum was discovered around colonial times. It was called "aluminum." The US became independent, then the British Royal Society decided to go through their element names and standardize the ending. Aluminum was just one of the elements that was changed from a "um" to "ium" ending. Since Americans no longer cared about the Royal Society, we kept our spelling and pronunciation the same.

[punatic]

Since Americans no longer cared about the Royal Society, we kept our spelling and pronunciation the same.

Yes, it never made it on to the schedule of things to be changed.
(British pronunciation: "shed yull")
(American pronunciation: "honey do list")

[theoman]

I've heard both DOO-vƏl...

That's pretty accurate, but if you want to be picky, the "OO" is a sound that isn't in the English language. The best way I can think to describe it is it's somewhere between "UH" and "OO" but focused just behind the teeth.
[/quote]

Like the french tu?
[/quote]

Yeah, close enough anyway. The OO sound does exist, like in Hoegaarden. No, it doesn't sound like Santa Claus landing in a vegetable patch. While I'm at it, the guttural "g" that's used in English, French or German isn't used in Flemish. The Dutch pronounce it like they're trying to hack up a wad of phlegm, while in Flemish it sounds more like you're trying to expel a hairball.

[punatic]

Riddle me this theoman...  Gueuze?

[theoman]

Riddle me this theoman...  Gueuze?

Aw, snap. Ya got me. Of course, the explanation is that it's not a word of Dutch origin.

[punatic]

Riddle me this theoman...  Gueuze?

Aw, snap. Ya got me. Of course, the explanation is that it's not a word of Dutch origin.

Not trying for a gotcha, truly interested in knowing the correct pronunciation.  I know the beer,  I'd to be able to call it something besides "yum!"