What I think about at 3:40 in the morning after everyone has gone to bed:
What bothers me is the pronunciation of the following word:
"Sherbet" - you know, the ice cream stuff, as in "orange sherbet."
People like to say "sher-BERT" - with emphasis on the "BERT," like the Bert in Bert and Ernie. These people swear that this pronunciation is correct. However, I beg these same people to find me this phantom, invisible "R" that seems to be missing from the word "sherbet." I look at this word over and over again, and am baffled how anyone could get "sherbeRt" from it. I have investigated the dictionary, and there is no other word in the English language that employs this so called invisible "R".
People do, however, omit "R's" from their speech pattern sometimes. This "silent R" has become acceptable - like when Australian people say "beer," it sounds more like "beeeyah."
But when did it become acceptable to add R's wherever the hell we wanted to? Imagine if I was allowed to add R's wherever I wanted to:
"I went to the mRall to buy some new thRings, but since they didn't haveR something I Rliked, I decidRed not to bRuy anything."
So to all the "sherBERT" people out there, learn how to pronounce words.
I even went to Baskin Robbins the other day because I thought the "sherbet" they had in the freezer might just be spelled with an R. No, it wasn't. It clearly read "rainbow sherbet." I had someone ask the worker behind the couter how to say the word and she said "sherBERT." So I proceeded to ask, why "sherBERT" when there obviously is no R at the end? And she responded "I don't know, I guess it's sherBET" - clearly not interested.
Anyway, I don't claim to be the master of the English language, for I have mispronounced quite a few words in my lifetime.
But the interesting thing is, I have always accepted and corrected my mistakes. These "sherBERT" people (and you know who you are), are adamant in their ways and refuse to accept that they have erroneously applied a phantom R.
Why the stubbornness?
If you don't believe me, go to your local Baskin Robbins and see how they spell it. Also visit any supermarket and see if you can find your beloved "sherBERT."
And, I am NOT confusing this with "sorbet," which is an entirely different word in itself.
"Sherbet" - you know, the ice cream stuff, as in "orange sherbet."
People like to say "sher-BERT" - with emphasis on the "BERT," like the Bert in Bert and Ernie. These people swear that this pronunciation is correct. However, I beg these same people to find me this phantom, invisible "R" that seems to be missing from the word "sherbet." I look at this word over and over again, and am baffled how anyone could get "sherbeRt" from it. I have investigated the dictionary, and there is no other word in the English language that employs this so called invisible "R".
People do, however, omit "R's" from their speech pattern sometimes. This "silent R" has become acceptable - like when Australian people say "beer," it sounds more like "beeeyah."
But when did it become acceptable to add R's wherever the hell we wanted to? Imagine if I was allowed to add R's wherever I wanted to:
"I went to the mRall to buy some new thRings, but since they didn't haveR something I Rliked, I decidRed not to bRuy anything."
So to all the "sherBERT" people out there, learn how to pronounce words.
I even went to Baskin Robbins the other day because I thought the "sherbet" they had in the freezer might just be spelled with an R. No, it wasn't. It clearly read "rainbow sherbet." I had someone ask the worker behind the couter how to say the word and she said "sherBERT." So I proceeded to ask, why "sherBERT" when there obviously is no R at the end? And she responded "I don't know, I guess it's sherBET" - clearly not interested.
Anyway, I don't claim to be the master of the English language, for I have mispronounced quite a few words in my lifetime.
But the interesting thing is, I have always accepted and corrected my mistakes. These "sherBERT" people (and you know who you are), are adamant in their ways and refuse to accept that they have erroneously applied a phantom R.
Why the stubbornness?
If you don't believe me, go to your local Baskin Robbins and see how they spell it. Also visit any supermarket and see if you can find your beloved "sherBERT."
And, I am NOT confusing this with "sorbet," which is an entirely different word in itself.