Re: Standard RP pronunciation of "often"?

Richard Polhill wrote:
miranka wrote:
"Richard Polhill" <richard.news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:d1f4$465e73d7$3e18e6cb$16148@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

No. RP would pronounce it without the T.

I think you may be able to infer that the speaker is over-cautious, trying
too
hard to pronounce "correctly"; probably somebody who has tried to lose a
regional accent or traces of what they perceive to be a background of
lower-social-standing. Alternatively they may not be a native English
speaker.

Funny. In all the listening material that comes with Longman's English
course "Friends" (for kids 9-13), you can only hear ofTen. You'd think books
for foreign learners should stick to the most popular or recommended
pronunciation. From what you are saying here ofTen is neither popular nor
recommended, but nevertheless soon you'll have half the world pronouncing
the word WITH a 't'.
It seems I'm an old-fashioned teacher who just can't get used to some
changes... ofTen is one of them:)
Anna (from Poland)


Well I am being unnecessarily harsh. Both are listed by the OED, with "offen" being listed first.


OED on-line suggests that the 't' is optional in the first choice but omits the final vowel, and second choice is to sound the t and make the final vowel a schwa.

Brit. /of(t)n/, /oftən/

While I normally say the second option, I am trying, and failing, to say the word with no final vowel (but always sounding the 't').


--
Blue Sow
.