English is easy to learn, right? Of course it is! Except for some complicated grammar rules, exceptions, irregularities, and endless idioms. Then, of course, there’s the spelling and pronunciation! Why are so many words full of letters that are not pronounced? What’s up with that?
The influence of other languages
English has a complex linguistic history. Over time, it adopted words from various other languages, including Latin, Greek, French, and Old Norse. In some cases, it kept the original pronunciation of the source language. In others, it kept the spelling, but dropped the sound of one of the letters to make pronunciation easier.
For example, the word receipt is borrowed from the Old French word receite, which itself came from Latin recepta (“received”). 16th century scholars then added the “p” to the word’s spelling to match the Latin root recepta, but the pronunciation didn’t change. The “p” remained silent.
The word psychology (pronounced “sigh-KOL-uh-jee”) comes from Greek. Psyche, meaning “soul” and logos, meaning “study”. In Ancient Greek the “p” was pronounced, but subtly. However, it has always been silent in English.
Old English and Middle English get modern
In Old English, the word talk (a derivative of tale) had an audible “l”. So did many other words, such as walk, half, and calf. Over time, however, the “l” became silent for ease of flow and articulation. Similarly, the “b” in words like dumb or climb were once pronounced, but eventually became silent to create a more natural flow of speech.
Test your pronunciation
In the following video, I list five words that are commonly mispronounced by non-native English speakers. (Plus a bonus sixth word at the end). Do you know how to pronounce them?
Private English classes to improve your pronunciation
If you found the above video helpful, or you would like to have some personalized help with pronunciation, I encourage you take a lesson with me! All my classes are tailored to the needs of the individual. I teach English online 7 days a week and can help you with English grammar, vocabulary, idioms, expressions, conversation, and pronunciation. Contact me for more information about lessons!
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