Comments on: “Forte” or “Fortë,” “Cache” or “Cachet”? http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:10 -0600 hourly 1 By: Cindy Cotter http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/comment-page-1/#comment-108171 Cindy Cotter Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:48:28 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/#comment-108171 When American speakers pronounce "foible," they use common rules of English. That makes sense to me. When they put an extra syllable on "forte" they are violating the rules of English and French in a mistaken attempt to give the word a foreign flavor. I consider that a lot less sensible. I am reminded of an awful sign at a local mall declaring that the place is a "shopping centre" with an accent over the last "e." The practice says more about putting on airs by trying (in a mangled way) to sound European than it does about honoring one's native language. When American speakers pronounce “foible,” they use common rules of English. That makes sense to me. When they put an extra syllable on “forte” they are violating the rules of English and French in a mistaken attempt to give the word a foreign flavor. I consider that a lot less sensible.

I am reminded of an awful sign at a local mall declaring that the place is a “shopping centre” with an accent over the last “e.” The practice says more about putting on airs by trying (in a mangled way) to sound European than it does about honoring one’s native language.

]]> By: AM http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/comment-page-1/#comment-42562 AM Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:22:27 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/#comment-42562 Had no idea about the "forte" pronunciation. Thanks for letting us know! Had no idea about the “forte” pronunciation. Thanks for letting us know!

]]> By: Tom http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/comment-page-1/#comment-18362 Tom Tue, 06 May 2008 20:40:25 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/#comment-18362 The original post is generally correct as far as pronunciation of the Italian forte [for tay] and French [fort]. However thise words are now English and we will pronounce them with our own distict sensitivities. In my dialect of ENGLISH, a [fort] is a stronhold and a [for tay] is a strength, while [for tay] is also loud when talking music. Interestingly, the author does not suggest that we pronounce "foible" as [fwa blə]. We use the English version of a once French word [foy bul] The original post is generally correct as far as pronunciation of the Italian forte [for tay] and French [fort]. However thise words are now English and we will pronounce them with our own distict sensitivities. In my dialect of ENGLISH, a [fort] is a stronhold and a [for tay] is a strength, while [for tay] is also loud when talking music.

Interestingly, the author does not suggest that we pronounce “foible” as [fwa blə]. We use the English version of a once French word [foy bul]

]]> By: September 2007 Most Popular Posts http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/comment-page-1/#comment-2559 September 2007 Most Popular Posts Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:21:26 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/#comment-2559 [...] “Forte” or “Fortë,” “Cache” or “Cachet”?: How many times have you heard people say something is not their “forte” and pronounce forte as /for tay/? [...] [...] “Forte” or “Fortë,” “Cache” or “Cachet”?: How many times have you heard people say something is not their “forte” and pronounce forte as /for tay/? [...]

]]> By: Battle of the Dictionaries http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/comment-page-1/#comment-2148 Battle of the Dictionaries Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:16:18 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/forte-or-forte-cache-or-cachet/#comment-2148 [...] commenting on the article Forte or Fortë, Cache or Cachet?, Geoff Foster points out that the Oxford American Dictionary on his Mac supports the /fortay/ [...] [...] commenting on the article Forte or Fortë, Cache or Cachet?, Geoff Foster points out that the Oxford American Dictionary on his Mac supports the /fortay/ [...]

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