Chile

reesetee commented on the word Chile

Be sure to check all of your Chilean coins!

February 14, 2010

pterodactyl commented on the word Chile

There's been a lot of bad news coming out of Chile this past week. I keep hearing radio news reports about the earthquake, and I know that when I hear one of these reports, I ought to focus on the tragedy and what I can do to help. Instead, my logophile mind focuses on the word "Chile" -- has anyone else noticed that this word is behaving strangely in the mouths of newscasters?

Most Americans, I think, pronounce it "chilly" (/tʃɪli/). From what I know of Spanish, the local pronunciation is probably closer to "chee-leh" (/tʃile/). I would expect an American newscaster to either use the American pronunciation or an American approximation of the Chilean pronunciation ("chee-lay", /tʃileɪ/, which is what I use).

Instead, every newscaster I've heard has pronounced it "chillay" (/tʃɪleɪ/). Isn't that weird? Why would the first syllable be American and the second syllable Chilean? To my ear, "chillay" is an awkward amalgam, and I cannot fathom why anyone, especially a newscaster, would use it.

Can anyone explain this?

March 5, 2010

pterodactyl commented on the word Chile

I'd also be interested to hear how newscasters outside of the U.S. are pronouncing it.

March 5, 2010

bilby commented on the word Chile

Sounds more cultured than "chilly", also has hints of backformation from adjectival form "chillayan".

March 5, 2010

madmouth commented on the word Chile

if the stress is on the 2nd syllable and it rhymes with 'delay', then it sounds like a good compromise between naturalness and authenticity. to me, there's nothing as American as the /ei/ used to approximate the pure /e/.

March 6, 2010

madmouth commented on the word Chile

moreover, I've found that the phonology of borrowings exhibits a strange combination of awareness and lack of awareness. In the form "chilLAY", the majority of speakers (or announcers, rather) seem to be more strongly aware of length than vowel quality. while /i/ is the vowel in the original country name, it is a short /i/, nigh impossible in Standard English--to this end, they have employed /I/, which satisfies the length component at the expense of the vowel. now, the question is, why should YOUR linguistic system feel the vowel quality is more important than length?

March 6, 2010

sionnach commented on the word Chile

If you consider its pronunciation in the phrase "Honey chile", then it's a capitonym (according to the rigorous definition*, not the ridiculously sloppy version of "capitonym" promulgated here on Weirdnik)

*: a word whose pronunciation changes depending on its capitalization status. See this list

March 6, 2010

bilby commented on the word Chile

I eat my peas with honey

I've done it all the while

It makes the peas taste funny

But it keeps them on the perception that I only rehashed this bit of doggerel to attempt a gratuituous end rhyme with honey chile

March 6, 2010

ruzuzu commented on the word Chile

But ridiculously sloppy can be fun!

*pouts*

What if we were to capitalize the word "capitonyms" when they're describing only the proper (non-sloppy) ones?

March 6, 2010

ruzuzu commented on the word Chile

There's no dictionary definition here in Weirdnikland yet, so I propose that we pronounce Capitonym the usual way, and pronounce capitonym as captionym.

March 6, 2010

sionnach commented on the word Chile

My beef is not with you, 'zuzu, ma cherie. You are free to make whatever lists you choose. It is the official weirdnik endorsement* of what I consider to be a poor definition that frosts my eyeballs.

But I daresay that I have given this particular peeve as much public petting as could be considered tolerable in polite society. Henceforth I shall just mutter inaudibly under my breath and wave my shillelagh at the monitor when possessed by pique.

*: "Endorsement" not by specifying a definition, but by its elevation to WOTD or LOTD status, I forget which.

March 6, 2010

pterodactyl commented on the word Chile

Madmouth, that's an excellent point about vowel length, and a nice tidy answer to my question. Thanks!

So now, a new question, for everybody: How do you pronounce "Chile" (when referring to the country)?

March 6, 2010

pterodactyl commented on the word Chile

My great love for sionnach and his shillelagh is only slightly diminished by his failure to bracket "frosts my eyeballs". :-)

March 6, 2010

sionnach commented on the word Chile

Smirk. Back atcha, ptero!

(I am reminded that I am one of the few site members who has earned the right to deploy the silent 'p' without paying a toll to ptero - I hope the rest of you are keeping up with your dues...)

March 6, 2010

pterodactyl commented on the word Chile

Indeed, I am the rightful owner of the letter P, and am entitled to royalties any time it gets used. (See p, and dog's letter, and remember that I will waive all royalties in perpetuity if presented with a rigorous example of silly poetry.)

However, it's come to my attention that my ownership rights stemmed from my use of Wordie Pro, and Wordie no longer exists. Therefore, it seems my beloved letter is caught in legal limbo. Until such time as Wordnik Pro is released, I shall have to endure rampant, unregulated use of the letter P.

What is this world coming to, may I ask, when anyone can use any letter of the alphabet whenever they like, for free?

I hate freedom.

March 6, 2010

yarb commented on the word Chile

I pronounce it like the Chileans when I'm talking to Chileans (or other Spanish speakers), but when I'm talking to Anglos I usually go with chilly.

March 6, 2010

ruzuzu commented on the word Chile

*Hands ptoll to ptero pregardless*

After reading these comments, I'm changing my pronunciation--from now on it's "Chillelagh." (Here's a usage example: "Gosh, it's so Chillelagh today. I hope sionnach doesn't frost his eyeballs.")

March 6, 2010

chained_bear commented on the word Chile

I had a similar length-of-vowel-sound conversation with a linguist many years ago. We were discussing how Americans can tell the difference between the spoken words "writing" and "riding," since he was mocking the American penchant for pronouncing "t" like "d," e.g. "budder"* rather than "butter." I suggested it was the length of the long-I sound, but it was a wild guess on my part.

* still one of the more hilarious sounds when a Brit tries to say it as an American would. Another example is to have an Australian pronounce the American-style R in "dork."

March 6, 2010

oroboros commented on the word Chile

I ditto yarb's use as with Spanish speakers, but otherwise I go with chilly or chillay depending on whether the universe zigs or zags at that moment. Just think of all the parallel realities that creates!

March 6, 2010

yarb commented on the word Chile

cb - Americans tell the difference between "writing" and "riding" simply through context, no? Like other homophones.

March 6, 2010

madmouth commented on the word Chile

flapping isn't connected to length. for example, Canadian English distinguishes 'riding' and 'writing' by length, the latter having a short /ai/, but they both have a flap where their 't' or 'd' ought to be. now, Hindi, besides flapping Ts and Ds, also does the N! it's a positive addiction.

/off-topic

March 6, 2010

chained_bear commented on the word Chile

yarb, that was my first answer. He didn't think that was good enough so I came up with the vowel answer. That kept him busy. It was kind of like ... having a bored toddler, and giving him a box of Kleenex so he can pull out the tissues and amuse himself while you get some work done.

P.S. as to the original question, I do say "Chill-ay." I think that's how many Americans say it, as opposed to "Chill-y," which I seem to hear more often from Brits, and is how I pronounced it before I ever heard the word spoken (as a kid). I just thought "Chill-ay" was the way it spozed to be. As to why, I think the back-formation idea (from "Chilean") makes the most sense to me.

March 6, 2010

reesetee commented on the word Chile

I usually pronounce it as c_b does, if only to avoid confusing it with my bowl of delicious cubed or coarsely ground meat, simmered in a sauce made from red chilies, spices, and other flavorings.

March 7, 2010

ruzuzu commented on the word Chile

See elvis presley for more on pronunciation in Chillelagh.

March 7, 2010

ruzuzu commented on the word Chile

One of the photos shows a wall where someone has spray-painted the words "abajo el capital."

August 5, 2011