other english speaking countries pronounce it she-dule .
2006-07-29 08:58:06 · 13 answers · asked by tausif h 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Actually, in this case the modern British pronunciation with "sh-" is the innovation. Apparently ca. 1700 (the period of the settling of the American colonies !!) the spelling in English varied between "schedule" and "scedule", reflecting a similar variation in the Latin from which the word came (through French).
At the same time alternate pronunciations were suggested -- either "sedyule" (as with other "sc-" words borrowed through French) and "skedyule". The "sh" pronunciation came later (though I'm not certain of ITS origins!), that is, after the American colonies were settled, so it's scarcely surprising the Americans did not follow the change.
The argument for the "sk-" pronunciation is based on the fact that the ROOT of this word goes back to Greek, to a set of words beginning with sigma + chi, which is very close to "sk-" in sound. In fact, in some cases scholars argued for changing the spelling of these words to reflect their Greek pronunciation. Hence, reformers advocated for revising the spelling from "sceptic" to "skeptic", though they failed in Britain.
The simplest root form (in Greek) seems to be the same as that now found in "schizoid" -- pronounced "sk-"-- but also of "schism", about which there is, ironically, great division. (MANY Americans --including me-- pronounce it as "sizm" NOT "skism".. once again going back to the French-style. But in NO case do you say "shizm"!) Another related word is "cede" (again pronounced with the /s/ sound).
2006-07-29 13:23:45 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I asked this question last week to someone from South Afirca who was giving me a hard time about the difference between British English and American English.
I pronounce it sked-yule. He pronounces it shed-yule. Of course, I learned how to pronounce shed-yule in skool, and so did he. So I wonder why he doesn't pronounce it shool? At least we are consistent in the pronunication of schedule and school - both with hard ch sound...
2006-07-29 19:32:54 · answer #2 · answered by merigold00 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the same reason we say "school" as "skool" and "schism" as "skizm." It may have to do with the amount of German influence, as some family member have the last name "Schomas" and in that case, it is pronounced, "Show-muss." That is just a guess, however.
2006-07-29 16:05:39 · answer #3 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you listen carefully, you'll notice a lot of pronunciation differences between the dialects of English.
2006-07-29 16:13:56 · answer #4 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Differences in English usage. So? It's still the same word and has the same meanings.
2006-07-29 16:01:59 · answer #5 · answered by DEATH 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OY!!
I'm English, and I've always pronounced it SKE-dual!!
2006-07-29 22:12:46 · answer #6 · answered by _ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I pronounce it Sked-yule.
2006-07-29 17:09:06 · answer #7 · answered by Sherry K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dialect,
I'm from the US and I pronounce it sch-d-yuel
2006-07-29 16:03:43 · answer #8 · answered by j_cragen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those countries probably also say iss-you and tiss-you instead of i-shoo and ti-shoo (issue and tissue).
2006-07-29 22:07:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
pronounce it skejool
2006-07-29 16:21:00 · answer #10 · answered by bernadet_lmr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋