in sports we pronounce it 'deefence'
in military terms it is 'difense'
2006-09-27 09:43:08 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You have noticed that there is a difference in stress in these two different words. The sports term is stressed on the first syllable, and the military term is stressed on the second syllable. The difference in vowels is a consequence of the stress.
This is similar to a phenomenon that is all over English. In many cases with two-syllable words, the noun version will be stressed on the first syllable and the verb version will be stressed on the second syllable. Here's an example::
My favorite musician just cut a new record.
I need to record that television program tonight.
Cool, eh?
2006-09-30 18:29:01 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was taught that /de FENSE/ is the preferred pronunciation in ALL applications. Both pronunciations are given in dictionaries but /de FENSE is the first to be displayed....therefore the preferred one.
The word detail has the same confusion in pronunciation.../de TAIL/ or /DE tail/??? /de TAIL/ is preferred and used by most newscasters...listen for yourself.
Go to the following site and listen to the 2 pronunciations.../de FENSE/ is the first one!:
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/defense
2006-09-28 02:54:42 · answer #2 · answered by tichur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use "detail", "deduct" and "defense" in a sentence.
Detail (the tail) of deduct (the duck) shook, when it flew over defense (the fence).
2006-09-28 21:01:37 · answer #3 · answered by tranquil 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IIt is strictly regional.
SPORTS it is also "diffence" as you say. "Diffensive tackle" for example
But "Dee-fence" sounds better yelled loudly from the stands in a basketball game...
2006-09-27 16:48:13 · answer #4 · answered by lost my mind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋