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How do you pronounce this word that means someone's strong suit? Like fort or fortay? And what does it have to do with fencing?
Released June 25, 2010.
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I listened to the podcast. This is one of three words that an English teacher in high school made a point about proper pronunciation.
1. forte -- I pronounce as fort, but generally avoid using the word -- especially w/ strangers. Not wise to correct others as Grant pointed out.
2. precedence -- the teacher said it is pre-SEE-dence -- not like the plural of precedent.
3. clique -- the teacher said kleek -- not click.
Sounds like these "proper" pronunciations are being overwhelmed -- language changes.
Grant Barrett said:
How do you pronounce this word that means someone's "strong suit"? And what does it have to do with fencing?
[audio:http://feeds.waywordradio.org/~r/awwwpodcast/~5/M9LiDH__NeE/100624-AWWW-ForteFortayMinicast.mp3%5D
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In French "fort" means loud, strong and can be used as an adjective. Since it's an adjective, it has a masculine and a feminine form. "Fort" is used for masculine nouns and is pronounced four. "Forte" is the feminine form of "fort" and is pronounced fourt.
"Fort" is also used in French as an adverb; as such it has no feminine form, so the pronunciation is always four.
A pronunciation of four-tay is not found in French.
Since the pronunciation fourt is reserved only for the adjective form of the word, and more specifically, the feminine adjective form of the word, I doubt that this usage would have grown so and been used so often as to become the official pronunciation of "forte."
However, Italian "forte" is always pronounced four-tay, masculine or feminine.
So I've generally felt comfortable using the pronunciation four-tay when I see or need the word "forte" in English.
I don't see where we got around to the fencing angle. I think you must be getting at the forte and foible of a sword, the former being the strongest part of the blade near the hilt and the latter being the weakest part toward the tip. Using the terms to describe the attributes of character or ability seems natural enough, and, for me anyway, clinches the French root of the term. So it's fort.
I've given up worrying about the awkwardness of correct usage. Most will probably think I'm stupid, but maybe one will look it up.
Fred
I am a musician and always thought this referred to "forte" with (accent) which means very loud. I'm sure there is some faulty logic there, but something being my "for-tay" would mean I'm at my best, my loudest (so most noticeable in the music world). Also, a lot of symphony or symphonic band pieces end loudly, or "for-tay," a grand fin-all-lay (finale) - as in "we saved the best for last."
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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