LINGUIST List 26.156
Tue Jan 13 2015
Qs: English pronunciation of omega
Editor for this issue: Damir Cavar <damirlinguistlist.org>
Date: 30-Dec-2014
From: Jeremy Castanier <jeremy.castanier
univ-poitiers.fr>
Subject: English pronunciation of omega
E-mail this message to a friend Dear all,
Contrary to what happens in American English, it seems that British speakers have long stressed ''omega'' on the first syllable in the 20th century. Yet according to the latest edition of the Longman Pronunciation Dictionary 48% of British speakers now stress ''omega'' on the second syllable.
As I am working on changing stress-patterns in English I am wondering if one speaker might distinguish between the Greek letter and some other uses of the word, for instance the watch brand name, omega-3, etc. If you are a native British speaker, do you distinguish between 'Omega and o'MEga for semantic reasons? Thank you very much.
Sincerey,
Jeremy Castanier
(PhD student, Poitiers, France)
Linguistic Field(s): Phonology
Subject Language(s):
English (eng)
Page Updated: 13-Jan-2015