Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: comfortable

What's the American pronunciation of "comfortable"?
I might have heard "c@mfterb@l" (yes, with the /r/ sound after the /t/ 
sound) in more than a few movies. Is this possible?
 
Kiuhnm

 sound) in more than a few movies. Is this possible?
 
Bizarre but true. This pronunciation is typical in the US. Or course, 
the correct, well-articulated pronunciation follows the letters in their 
written order. I sometimes slack off and eliminate a syllable when 
pronouncing that word in casual situations.
 
In fact, I think that's why the pronunciation may be changing. Saying 
the syllable "a" slows the speaker down, but eliminating it leaves the 
dilemma of transitioning from a "t" to a "b." A transition from a "r" to 
a "b" is more natural.

 a "b" is more natural.
 
Schwas aside, do you mean comftabl, comfbal, comforbal or what?
 
Kiuhnm

 Schwas aside, do you mean comftabl, comfbal, comforbal or what?
 
comf-ter-ble
 
The Merriam-webster dictionary offers three pronunciations.
\ˈkəm(p)(f)-tə(r)-bəl, ˈkəm(p)-fə(r)-tə-bəl, ˈkəm-fə(r)-bəl\
 
I would imagine that my casual pronunciation is closest to the first, 
and my formal pronunciation is closest to the second.
 
The Oxford Learner's Dictionary online offers audio of both American 
English pronunciations and the related British pronunciations.
http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/dictionary/comfortable
 
 
If you are interested in a discussion of different pronunciations you 
might want to look at this.
http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t936.htm
 

 Bizarre but true. This pronunciation is typical in the US. Or 
course,
 
Are there other words pronounced like that?
 
-- 
-- Just my 2 cents

 
http://www.antimoon.com/forum/t936.htm
 
 
Interesting. Thanks.
 
Kiuhnm

 Sorry if I'm being too pedant here :)
 
Pedant is the noun form. One normally says "I'm being too pedantic." 
It's less common but acceptable to say "I'm being a pedant."
 
I never omit the 'r' in comfortable. As I explained above, it is more 
natural to say the 'r' preceding the 'b' than the 't' preceding the 'b,' 
when omitting the "a" syllable.

 Are there other words pronounced like that?
 
Only com-fort-a-ble is pronounced as comf-ter-ble, but there are many 
pronunciations in English that are not decipherable from the spelling. 
Given the serendipity of writing the similar -able word 
de/ciph/er/a/ble, I can say that one usually pronounces all 5 syllables. 
It is a word that is used less often than comfortable. However, if by 
some technological innovation in the culture it became very frequently 
used, I would imagine that people would start taking the shortcut of 
saying de/ciph/re/ble.
 

Tony the Ice Man, 19:16, domenica 17 giugno 2012:
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Pronouncing "comfortable" correctly isn't that comfortable.
 
 
-- 
The secret source of humor is not joy but sorrow; there is no
humor in Heaven.
    -- Mark Twain
 

):

Where I come from (New England) where Rs are often omitted, it's pronounced 
"c@mft@bl." No hint of an R.
 
That's my usual pronunciation, even though I've managed to divest of most of 
the other regional sounds of the Boston accent. If I happen to be speaking 
publicly I pronounce all four syllables as it's written, more or less:
'cum-f@rt-@-bl."
 
-- 
Joey from New York
Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator,
but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.
   -- WH Auden
 

 Pronouncing "comfortable" correctly isn't that comfortable.
 
Just say "comfy" :)

 'cum-f@rt-@-bl."
 
Defnly! :D
 

):

I se wht y dd thr.



Cazzo, e' vero! :D
 
-- 
Enrico il Pentolaio.