since language is phonetic and those words can be pronounced even without the spam letters, what is the significance of those letters. ex. in indian languages, all the letters in a word are pronounced. i think it is the case of all other languages. then why only english?
2006-08-04 21:02:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
If the (l) in calm was not pronounced, like you say, it would sound like "cam".
Although you do not make the explicit (l) sound in 'calm', the (l) has a significant effect on the pronunciation of the word.
Likewise, psychology would be pronounced 'sy-CHOE-le-gee' without the (p). The (p) turns the pronunciation into "sy-KOR-le-gee". So-called silent consonants usually alter the pronunciation of a word in indirect ways.
2006-08-04 21:10:12 · answer #1 · answered by Tuna-San 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are called, "silent" letters. Pf = f / the "l" in calm, should be pronounced, "call-m." The P in psychology is silent. Try going to wikipedia and looking at the English language. There's so much there that's helpful! Good luck!
I'm pretty sure you'll find that the English added lots of extra letters to words because they liked the way they looked! Haha! But many have actually been dropped, especially by Americans.
Such as using "color" rather than "coulour." Many of our words have been adapted & used from many other languages as well. Then we have slang words & local area usage of words. Hence, American the, "Melting Pot."
2006-08-04 21:58:28 · answer #2 · answered by LL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they used to be pronounced before , and by experience they started to neglect them gradually , and at the end they stopped pronouncing as the it is easier without changing the meaning.. in future , you may us U instead of you, and Am instead of (I am ) .Americans they are doing it for many words like color for the original word of colour and so on
2006-08-04 23:02:39 · answer #3 · answered by kind_enough 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's a special language?
2006-08-04 21:05:35 · answer #4 · answered by somethingsovague 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually the l in calm is pronounced...there are other languages that do that as well...ie. French...
2006-08-04 21:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by acidpluto 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
W in daWg
2006-08-04 21:04:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because were all idiots (pronounced: idd-e-uts)
2006-08-04 21:05:39 · answer #7 · answered by yankfan1226 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to make it harder to learn!!! sounds logical to me.... idk, i've had 28 yrs to perfect it, so i'm good.
2006-08-04 21:08:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋