How prevalent is the silent "t"

Marc Sacks msacks at THEWORLD.COM
Fri Jun 8 17:24:42 UTC 2007


I wrote:
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>
>>I just want to add the word "often" to the question. My elementary-school
>>teachers always insisted the "t" in "often" was silent, but many people
>>pronounce it. I don't know that it's a regional difference, since my son
>>pronounces the "t" while my wife and I don't, and I never noticed a
>>prevalence for one or the other, at least around Boston.
>>
>>Marc Sacks
> ~~~~~~~~~~
To which Sagehen added:
> Not to mention _soften, hasten, listen, fasten,chasten,moisten_, just to
> those that pop into my mind with a minute's reflection.
> AM

I've never heard anyone pronounce the "t" in any of those words.

Marc
msacks at theworld.com

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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