Comments on: Defending the Fort for Forte http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249 A Blog about Words and Language(s) from alphaDictionary.com Tue, 21 May 2013 19:53:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.6 By: Stephen http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249&cpage=1#comment-152129 Stephen Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:12:45 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249#comment-152129 I have read and been taught in school since I can remember that the word forte was pronounced "fort" unless used musically. Just because many people prefer "fortay" does not make it the correct way to pronounce the word. Also, David stated that modern dictionaries list "fort" first meaning it is the primary pronunciation and that older dictionaries only had the one pronunciation. That says to me that "fort" is correct no matter how many people want it to be different. David also said "Language exists for communication" - if we keep changing the way words are pronounced or spelled rather than teaching people the proper way, everyone will have his or her own way to talk or write and no one will be able to communicate at all. Or why bother to test school children on spelling and grammar if it's OK to say things any way that you want to say them? I have read and been taught in school since I can remember that the word forte was pronounced “fort” unless used musically. Just because many people prefer “fortay” does not make it the correct way to pronounce the word. Also, David stated that modern dictionaries list “fort” first meaning it is the primary pronunciation and that older dictionaries only had the one pronunciation. That says to me that “fort” is correct no matter how many people want it to be different. David also said “Language exists for communication” – if we keep changing the way words are pronounced or spelled rather than teaching people the proper way, everyone will have his or her own way to talk or write and no one will be able to communicate at all. Or why bother to test school children on spelling and grammar if it’s OK to say things any way that you want to say them?

]]> By: The Ridger http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249&cpage=1#comment-120783 The Ridger Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:54:35 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249#comment-120783 If it were French it would be spelled "fort" and pronounced 'for'. If it were French it would be spelled “fort” and pronounced ‘for’.

]]> By: rbeard http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249&cpage=1#comment-119561 rbeard Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:02:15 +0000 http://www.alphadictionary.com/blog/?p=249#comment-119561 David replies: Thank you for your thoughtful reply. English is a dynamic language and the majority of people pronounce forte with two syllables. You have made a strong argument in defense of that pronunciation. However, as modern dictionaries list the one syllable pronunciation first and mid-century dictionaries only list that pronunciation, it is incorrect to say that that pronunciation is incorrect. It may not be any more correct than the two syllable, I can agree with that. Language exists for communication. Most people wouldn't know what I mean when I use the one syllable pronunciation. The only value I can think of using it is to signal that I have an interest in words and have more sophisticated understanding of words than average. There is value though, not in feeling smarter than other people, but in signaling to other people with similar interests, an advertisement and a filter. For that reason I will remain using for-tay when speaking about music only. My vocabulary comes largely from reading which lends itself to mispronunciation. I enjoy reading about commonly mispronounced words, because it helps me avoid embarrassment. However, there is an inherent danger in them. I like that we have regional dialects. I don't want to change that while I eat almonds my friend from Maine eats ah-monds. I have come to accept and enjoy that my mom still "does the warsh". --David McReynolds David replies:

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. English is a dynamic language and the majority of people pronounce forte with two syllables. You have made a strong argument in defense of that pronunciation. However, as modern dictionaries list the one syllable pronunciation first and mid-century dictionaries only list that pronunciation, it is incorrect to say that that pronunciation is incorrect. It may not be any more correct than the two syllable, I can agree with that.

Language exists for communication. Most people wouldn’t know what I mean when I use the one syllable pronunciation. The only value I can think of using it is to signal that I have an interest in words and have more sophisticated understanding of words than average. There is value though, not in feeling smarter than other people, but in signaling to other people with similar interests, an advertisement and a filter. For that reason I will remain using for-tay when speaking about music only.

My vocabulary comes largely from reading which lends itself to mispronunciation. I enjoy reading about commonly mispronounced words, because it helps me avoid embarrassment. However, there is an inherent danger in them. I like that we have regional dialects. I don’t want to change that while I eat almonds my friend from Maine eats ah-monds. I have come to accept and enjoy that my mom still “does the warsh”.

–David McReynolds

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