a complaint, and linguistic issue

[rivendellrose]

A few stupid things.

First, why does the official Wicked site have sound clips from the original Broadway cast, but no pictures from the original cast? They have a ton from the current cast, but... forgive me, but I'm not interested in seeing those people! I'm interested in seeing the same people I've been hearing!

Although I will say, Fiyero is just about exactly as I'd pictured him. Madame Morrible is a bit more haute couture than I'd guessed, but it seems appropriate. And for some reason, I'd pictured Nessarose more washed-out pale. Wasn't that in the book? I guess they couldn't make her blonde without confusing people because of Galinda.

Edit, because I'm crazy. Here are some pics. Be warned, that page is HUGE, with a LOT of pictures. It slowed down my computer here at the office, it was so big. Although, granted, I had a lot of other windows open. Anyway, at least a fair portion of those are clearly the original cast. And there's a lot of horribly cute stuff in there, if you dig through the crap. XD

Second, I finally remembered that linguistics problem that was bothering me a while ago. Say the world "calm," right now. Pay attention to exactly how you say it. Concentrate...

...

...

And now, tell me - did you pronounce the 'l'?

My prof swore that no one really pronounces the 'l.' But another student and I both insist that some people do. And I'm sure of it. Know why? Because the reason I remembered is that my boss at the museum doesn't say it, and it totally threw me off.

Comments

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

I do not pronounce the 'l'.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

...Maybe she was right and I just think I do. This drives me nuts! I keep saying it over and over trying to hear, but trying not to be too conscious of it so that I over-correct. Blargh!

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Well, with the way I talk, I wouldn't. I'm trying to remember now if I've heard anyone pronounce the 'l' or not.

Actually, mother psycho-bitch from hell pronounced it, now that I think of it. 'cah-lm'.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Huh. Well, let's just hope it's not just psycho-bitches who pronounce it, then. ;)

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

I think it was her bizarre Italian/Conneticut accent.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Very true. Mmm, mixing accents. ;)

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Plus the smoke induced wheeze... ;)

Oh, Y!Snape responded to Y!Remus.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

That makes everything worse, yup.

I saw, and replied!

[nicolemarieh.livejournal.com]

if i am just talking in general, i dont pronounce it. but if i am reading out loud, i pronounce the "l" because i see it. I would agree that some people do and some people dont.. but its such a subtle different (i think) that its probably not that obvious to most people.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*Nods* That's probably the case for a lot of people, I'd guess. It's just one of those crazy linguistics-geek things, for me.

[spazzychic.livejournal.com]

I WANT TO SEE THAT!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

ME TOO!!!!!

It's at the Paramount next September (2006). I'm really really really gonna try to go.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

I say it . . . but then, that's one of the 3 dozen words I still regularly say with an English accent.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

See, that's kind of my problem, too. I'm pretty sure I say the 'l', but I also say the first 'r' in February. So I'm a bit odd.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Exactly. And as a past favourite discussion about the "silent" 'u' in colour, neighbour, etc- you can actually hear the 'u' when I say the word. So I'm not a prime example! (It's the English accent. It actually is a silent 'u' when it's a canadian speaking . . . )

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Heh. Seems sometimes like it's the 'o' that's silent in the American pronunciation of those words. "Culler," "nayber," "summer"... it's all the same sound.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I do not pronounce the "l," but I have heard people do so. Could it be a regional accent?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

That's what I think it is. This prof was convinced that no one said it.

...Listen to me, still ranting about a tiny little thing a professor in a class I took more than a full year ago said. I'm so neurotic. *Headdesk*

But yes, I think you're exactly right.

[becksbooks.livejournal.com]

I say the 'l', and so does Randy (barely, but it's there). You're not insane.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I can feel my tongue making the 'l,' damn it, it's there. I hate when profs get all "you just think you're doing it" and won't fecking listen. And she's the linguist. *Sighs*

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

You and I talked about the "calm" thing back when it originally happened, and I do pronounce the "L", but then , I, like you, pronounce the "R" in February, so....Go figure.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yup. Obviously, it's still bothering me. I must truly be crazy. ;)

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's crazy, but I thought that professor was crazy back then, and I still do.
Hope you had a great day!

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. Nice woman, but kind of... yeah. Thanks, I did. I hope you did, too!

[lovelies.livejournal.com]

From the perspective of a non-native... I think every letter, even the silent ones, has an impact on pronounciation. I hear a difference between herbs and erbs, whine and wine. I definitely pronounce the 'l', and in pronounciation even in general try to take in account every letter as it's written in UK English.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Would that all speakers were so careful, myself included. Linguistically, I understand that the shifts in pronunciation are a natural process, but from a purist's point of view, I really want to slap myself when I realize things like the fact that I pronounce "half" and "have" the same sometimes - as 'haff.' Things like that drive me nuts.

[maho-kiwi.livejournal.com]

...how the hell do you say "calm" without the l? *tries, fails* It's...it's...cahm? I guess if you're from brooklyn, sure...0-o

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yup, cahm. She swears everyone says that, and that we all just think we say the l. I think she's crazy, but....

[sigelphoenix.livejournal.com]

I pronounce the 'l' too. Not as strongly when it is placed at the beginning of a syllable, or even in 'world,' but similar to the word 'malt.' I tried thinking of how it would be said without the 'l' but the best I could come up with was the way I pronounce 'comm.'

And yes, that site eats up processor speed like crazy. Thumbnails, dear, thumbnails ... I'll have to look at it sometime when I don't actually need my computer for work.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Exactly! 'Comm' would be it exactly. And it's different. *Seethes* I swear, that woman is gonna be so unlucky if she ever has to walk into my office, because I'm going to go off on this rant... and she probably won't remember who the hell I am.

Exactly. It's a very amateurish site, but some of the pics are lovely.

[diea.livejournal.com]

I pronounce the L! I wonder if it's a regional thing. You know how people in different parts of the U.S. and in different parts of the world pronounce words differently?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It definitely is - like I said, my boss totally says "cahm." But she was swearing up and down that no one says the l. Which drove another student and I totally bugfuck.