There’s a rule for the pronunciation of the word “the.” If it’s followed by a word whose first letter is a vowel, sticklers say it should be pronounced like “/thee/,” as in, the end. If followed by a consonant, it rhymes with “duh,” as in “the dog”...
Mike in Seattle grew up in Sitka, Alaska, and wonders whether there really is an Alaskan accent or just a mix of voices brought by newcomers. Alaskan English has regional pockets, but many speakers share features with western Canadian English and...
A Dallas listener says he was confused at first when a friend from rural North Dakota reported coming home and finding a moose in his kitchen. Only later did he learn what difference the so-called Canadian raising of a vowel can make. More about...
Do you say something happened on accident or by accident? Is text-messaging destroying our kids’ writing ability? Where do horseradish, zarf, and ignoramus come from?
Did you learn the vowels as “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” “u,” and sometimes “y” and “w”? A caller who was taught that in second grade was left wondering: When and where does “w” function as a vowel? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The...
“If you’re writing out the names of numbers, what three numbers require six e’s and no other vowels?” Quiz Guy John Chaneski has the answer in his latest word puzzle. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Words of Numbers Quiz” You’re...
