please answer if u know....
2007-01-07 18:18:48 · 6 answers · asked by Jannat 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I think you mean "Why is the vowel 'u' pronounced differently in 'but' and 'put'? "
It's just one of the many inconsistencies of the English language. That's just the way it is. You just have to remember the different pronunciations.
Some more inconsistencies are : spear/pear (same vowels, different sounds); slaughter/laughter; sword/word. That's English for you!!
2007-01-07 19:02:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As said above, each vowel has different sounds. I think another reason - this is sort of a guess - is that when words were created, they were often derivatives from latin and other romance languages. The origin words may have been from two different languages, but our english versions are coincidentally spelled similarly.
2007-01-08 02:39:02 · answer #2 · answered by ZenBrain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are spelled with two distinctly different letters with two distinctly different sounds when pronounced correctly. It's really hard to explain how without being able to show you what to do with your lips. The B in BUT is pronounced by pressing your lips together with them being slightly sucked into your mouth and then letting the sound out explosively, but more fully than you would when pronouncing a P.
The P in PUT is also pronounced by pressing your lips together, but this time they should be slightly sticking out from your mouth like you were going to kiss somebody. Then you let out the sound, almost like your were spitting something out of your mouth.
I don't know if that helps or not, but I don't know how else to describe it.
2007-01-08 02:23:21 · answer #3 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no reason for most of the English langauge. Sometimes one wonder what TWO people would think about having TO use the word TOO TOO often.
2007-01-08 02:24:39 · answer #4 · answered by ccrstitch2003 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The difference lies in P and B. They are both plosives (that is the air comes out of the oral cavity with a blow), and bilabial (bacause we use both of our lips when we pronounce them). But the difference is that one is voiced and one is voiceless (I cannot remember which is which). By regressive assimilation, the second letter, in this case U is pronounced differently.
2007-01-08 02:47:37 · answer #5 · answered by Ana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each vowel encompasses several different sounds. Some more examples are "won one" with the "uh" sound, "won't own" with the "oh" sound, and "top shop" with the "ah" sound.
2007-01-08 02:31:03 · answer #6 · answered by Aaron F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋