Pronunciation Poll

[RocketManJames]

APATHETIC comes from PATHETIC more so than APATHY which comes from APATHETIC... I think.

Pathetic is basically being able to have feelings. Apathetic is the absence of this ability, no?

Anyone know definitively? I'll concede defeat, but not right now, as I'm not yet convinced.

-RMJ

[jaeon]

comes from

a = without
pathos = feeling

both apathy and apathetic have the same root, just different parts of speech (noun vs. adjective).

[AncientPC]

Just look up stuff off m-w.com and hit the little sound icon:
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionar...mp;x=0&y=0

[mosta]

[ QUOTE ]
comes from

a = without
pathos = feeling

both apathy and apathetic have the same root, just different parts of speech (noun vs. adjective).

[/ QUOTE ]

a is a greek prefix. it does not mean without, it means not.

a-political.
a-moral.
a-typical.
a-gnostic.
a(n)hydrous.
a(n)ionic.

edit: I guess "without" isn't totally incorrect, but you wouldn't use "a" to say I came without any money, in Greek.

[mosta]

[ QUOTE ]
My favorite is "Gyro":

ji-ro
or
eur-o

Most Americans say "ji-ro" but the correct pronuciation is "eur-o". Go to any mediteranian country where gyros are eaten everywhere and ask for a "ji-ro" and they're gonna have no idea what you're talking about.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah they'll probably have absolutely no idea! and it doesn't make any difference whether they're Greek, or Lebanese, or Armenian, either, or of any other Mediterranean origin.

I can't vouch for the pronunciation of gamma in modern Greek, but if you're trying to be sophisticated I think it's much more significant to get the ending right: gyros (singular). -os is masculine _singular_, "one gyros please", and has been for millenia.

[Peca277]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm the only one so far who pronounces the H in Herb?

Maybe it's a British thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Silly Brits. Don't pronounce the h in hold, "OLD THE BALL BECKHAM!" but you say the h in herb??

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
My favorite is "Gyro":

ji-ro
or
eur-o

Most Americans say "ji-ro" but the correct pronuciation is "eur-o". Go to any mediteranian country where gyros are eaten everywhere and ask for a "ji-ro" and they're gonna have no idea what you're talking about.

[/ QUOTE ]
I thought it was yee-ro.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
i understand the difference now but still don't pronounce it either way.

A-(as in the letter A)pathetic is...well, pathetic. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

but i also don't say Ah-(like the doctor)pathetic.

i say it like i pronounce the A in apple.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yea. I've never heard anyone say Ah-pathetic. Weird.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
AMORAL...

[/ QUOTE ]

Comes from MORAL. AMORAL.

[ QUOTE ]
ASEXUAL.

[/ QUOTE ]

Comes from SEXUAL. ASEXUAL.

[ QUOTE ]
ASEPTIC

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure that ASEPTIC stems directly from SEPTIC.

[ QUOTE ]
So why should APATHETIC be treated differently?

[/ QUOTE ]

APATHETIC comes from APATHY, not PATHETIC (though I imagine they all are related to PATHOS).

[/ QUOTE ]
Because this is English. Pronunciation rules never work. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Emmitt2222]

about that gyro thing, just happened to be in Greece about 2 weeks ago cus Im doing a study abroad and call me an idiot but I actually just tried both at different times and they all knew what I was talking about. Did I sound like a stupid American? for sure, but does it matter? no because I got it from them and it tasted good.