Show TAKE MY WORD FOR IT By Frank Colby Arlington When General Pershing died and lay in state one commentator spoke of the late generals general's BY Is there any sanction for that pronunciation pronunciation pronunciation of the word bier bier Answer Certainly not Bier is pronounced exactly like the word beer Mobile obile Why is earnest money so called V. 1 MW Answer Earnest money is a payment made to bind a contract contract con con- tract it is a legal token that both buyer and seller are in earnest Los Angeles Isn't the pronunciation prang for Prague in incorrect incorrect incorrect in- in correct Answer Not any more The spelling Prague is French and English Formerly the English pronunciation rhymed w with wit i t h vague but now prevails The Czech spelling is Praha pronounced pronounced pronounced pro pro- Program note Newscaster Elmer Davis does not say pro grm grin He says program to rhyme with go Hgo Sam Charlotte Occasionally I hear someone try to pronounce the ther ther ther r in Mrs rs making it sound like miseries Can this be right right right- PG Answer Never Mrs 1 is the abbreviation of mistress but the pronunciation has long been ob ob- solete The Standard American pronunciation is MISS ez In Inthe Inthe Inthe the south many people say mizz The correct use of will snail would should is made easy by Mr Colby's key A valuable reference for teachers teach teach- ers students and all writers For a copy send in coin and anda a stamped self-addressed self envelope envelope envelope en en- to him care of The Salt Lake Tribune Telegram Home Service bureau S Salt lt Lake City 10 Utah Bell Syndicate Inc |