Linguistic Question: Æ

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@ Cyberus

Surely the 'ae' combination is not the same as the symbol Argo is talking about? As far as I know the ae combination is pronounced differently depending on emphasis as befits its position in the word.

For example paediatric : is pronounced 'pee'. The phonetic guide in the dictionary is the same for paediatric and pea: (I:)

But that doesn't happen with anaesthetic. That is pronounced like animal. But if you anaesthetise someone, then you go back to the I: 'ee' pronounciation.

I would say Argo's friend would have to pronounce the Æ the same way you do with the Æsop (he of the fables fame).

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@ Blobzie

"Eh?"
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Nah, a bit longer, methinks...eeeeeeeehh maybe.

 :-P

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Ja, but then we got a problem with these:

1) aetiology
2) aestivate
3) aegis
4) aeon

Those are pronounced like 'eagle'.

But I agree your eh makes sense with aerodrome, aeroplane, aerosol.

So let's see our options:

1) Æson, pronounced eeson
2) Æson, pronounced ason
3) Æson, pronounced ehson

And lastly the wildcard: ayson. (I think that's what the ordinary Joe will think it is.)

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 :lol:

Actually, Blobzie's 'eh' definitely fits Dave (at least I suspect it does, if she says that name). Okay, maybe it is a slightly longer eeh.  :-P