[user104658]

In all seriousness - in any Scottish primary school, if you mispronounced your "th" as an "f" you'd probably be put down for some speech and language therapy, because it's technically a speech impediment...

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Withano

I have absolutely no idea. Free and three are pronounced the same way surely?

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I refuse to believe that you actually think this... I mean... You would have to have literally never watched a TV show or movie from the US, because Ive never heard a US accent that would pronounce three as "free".

I'm confused for the opposite reason. How do you pronounce them the same?

In fact I've ONLY heard from England. And even then, it's not like the Queen was like "Hello everyone, it's time for my speech. Two fousand and firteen has been a great year"

[Withano]

I'm going to ask my mum and dad if they pronounce free and three the same way, I'll keep you updated

[Withano]

My Dad has no idea what you're all going on about either

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Maru

I'm confused for the opposite reason. How do you pronounce them the same?

That's because in America the British accents you hear are usually limited to Regionless "Proper English", like James Bond, Doctor Who, Harry Potter etc. and possibly some Scottish (usually exaggerated)... Neither of which Th-front (technical term for pronouncing th as f).

Try to find an episode of "Eastenders", then you'll know what it sounds like .

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Withano

My Dad has no idea what you're all going on about either

Youtube video

[user104658]

That said, neither Englishes NOR Americans can properly pronounce "burgh", as in "Edinburgh". English people tend to say "Edin-bra or Edin-bruh", Americans tend to say "Edin-burrow" or even "Edin-burg".

And all y'all pronounce "Loch" as "lock".

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Youtube video

this is painful. I don't understand how that is different to how we would pronounce those words if they were spelt with an f instead of a th.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Withano

this is painful. I don't understand how that is different to how we would pronounce those words if they were spelt with an f instead of a th.

You genuinely can't hear a difference between "free" and "three" when, say, it's pronounced by a newsreader?

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

You genuinely can't hear a difference between "free" and "three" when, say, it's pronounced by a newsreader?

I've never heard them in the same sentence before... cant specifically remember a time I heard a newsreader (or anyone else really) say these words either, I'll keep an ear out.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

That said, neither Englishes NOR Americans can properly pronounce "burgh", as in "Edinburgh". English people tend to say "Edin-bra or Edin-bruh", Americans tend to say "Edin-burrow" or even "Edin-burg".

And all y'all pronounce "Loch" as "lock".

Them yanks/noreasters (the upstairs Americans) would say Edin-burrow I suspect. I would use Edin-BERG What is the proper pronunciation though of "burgh" though?

We can blame the English language itself. It's not like spelling and pronunciation in our language is thoroughly consistent anyway. Very easy to butcher the language and your butchering would be right depending on what region of the US/UK you live in and in some cases, context.

[Niamh.]

I said this before but I'm convinced Irish people can't pronounce th because in the Irish language if words start with th the t becomes silent so there's no sound like the th in English i think our tongues just aren't meant for it

[JerseyWins]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

That said, neither Englishes NOR Americans can properly pronounce "burgh", as in "Edinburgh". English people tend to say "Edin-bra or Edin-bruh", Americans tend to say "Edin-burrow" or even "Edin-burg".

And all y'all pronounce "Loch" as "lock".

Edinburgh would be pronounced Edin-BERG. I don't think I've ever heard it pronounced differently anywhere. Like I'm confused how "burgh" can possibly translate to "bra" or "bruh" or "burrow"

Pittsburgh = Pitts-BERG etc.

[JerseyWins]

Also I'm SO confused... what is Withano on about?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Maru

Them yanks/noreasters (the upstairs Americans) would say Edin-burrow I suspect. I would use Edin-BERG What is the proper pronunciation though of "burgh" though?

Closest I could type it is "Edin-burruh" but there's a sort of glottal element to the "ruh". And the "bu" is very short so it's sort of ALMOST "Edin-brah"... but it's not.

Youtube video

(Also, Glasgow is "Glazz-Go", not bloody "Glass-Cow".

[Parmy]

Yin
Twae
Three
Fower
Five
Six
Seevin
Ite
Nine
Ten
Eleeven
Twelve.

[MTVN]

I'm with Withano, I can only see them as identical phonetically

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by MTVN

I'm with Withano, I can only see them as identical phonetically

[caprimint]

Originally Posted by JerseyWins

What can I get for $15?
I'll give you three burgers
I'll give you free burgers

The three/free one is the most dangerous in communication

Unless you're vegetarian bc who wants free or three burgers anyway!?!?!??!

[JerseyWins]

Originally Posted by caprimint

Unless you're vegetarian bc who wants free or three burgers anyway!?!?!??!

Originally Posted by JerseyWins

Edinburgh would be pronounced Edin-BERG. I don't think I've ever heard it pronounced differently anywhere. Like I'm confused how "burgh" can possibly translate to "bra" or "bruh" or "burrow"

Pittsburgh = Pitts-BERG etc.

Btw I just remembered my dad actually says Pittsburrow and he was raised for many years of his life in Europe (Croatia) so idk if he picked up that pronunciation in America or over there.

Also idk why these kind of language/pronunciation topics interest me so much

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by JerseyWins

Btw I just remembered my dad actually says Pittsburrow and he was raised for many years of his life in Europe (Croatia) so idk if he picked up that pronunciation in America or over there.

That's not a difference in pronunciation though, it's just wrong

[LaLaLand]

9/10 times I say TH but sometimes the commoner has to come out in me and I F it.

[Josy]

I don't have a speech impediment so can pronounce the words properly..

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Josy

I don't have a speech impediment so can pronounce the words properly..

Interesting brag for us Scots Josy: Scottish is a very "phonetically complete" accent, there are very few linguistic sounds that Scottish people struggle with, and no western ones .

We tend to glottal stop our "T" rather than fully enunciating them (e.g. "bu' 'er" instead of "butter") but its habitual not structural, meaning that if you say to someone who does it, "say it properly!", they CAN say "butter".

[user104658]

For those who are saying that "th" and "f" are phonetically the same, they just aren't or shouldn't be! The shape of the mouth / position of the tongue for saying each correctly is totally different.