Show TAKE MY WORD FOR IT By Frank Colby Several Se readers have asked for a discussion of the word president as heard frequently on the air One asks Why is it that some speakers put a dent dentin in president saying PREZ i DENT There are two reasons for such a pronunciation 1 The speaker in his desire for correctness correctness correctness cor cor- gives gl a too-precise too sound to vowels in unstressed syllables 2 the speaker has hasa a dialectical speech pattern One is as faulty as the other I shall admit however howe that some dictionaries' dictionaries method of indicating in indicating in- in ng the sound of obscured vowels in unstressed syllables is extremely misleading Merriam Websters Webster's and its imitators are the worst offenders in using ambiguous ambiguous ambiguous am am- and often meaningless phonetic symbols Instead of using using- a minimum of simple to grasp symbols t the they h e y seem to delight in devising a hodgepodge of hen tracks squiggles squiggles squiggles and other cabalistic curlicues curlicues curlicues cues that are entirely beyond the understanding of the majority major major- ity of ity-of of the people If you believe that your dictionary dictionary dictionary dic dic- rhymes the dent of president with ith cent lent you are misreading your dictionary and should acquaint yourself with the symbols it uses in showing showIng showing show- show Ing the sound of obscured vowels vowels vow vow- els in unstressed syllables The correct pronunciation as shown in Colby Phonetic Spelling Spelling Spell Spell- Spelling ing is PREZ i Are have got and have gotten ever correct Mr Ir Colby's Colby's Colby's Col Col- bys by's leaflet C 2 explains the constructions in which these phrases may be used correctly Send in coin and a stamped self-addressed self envelope to him care of The Salt Lake Tribune- Tribune Telegram Home Service Bureau Salt Lake City 10 Utah |